Department for Transport

Cycling: Voucher Schemes

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications have been made to the Cycle to Work Scheme in each month of 2020.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government does not hold this data. The Cycle to Work Alliance, an industry body which represents four of the leading providers of bicycles and equipment under the cycle to work scheme, has informed the Department that weekly applications to their members increased between the period May-July 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen

Fay Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the role hydrogen passenger vehicles can play in decarbonising transport.

Rachel Maclean: In 2018, the Department for Transport published the outputs of the Transport Energy Model. The model provides an assessment of the relative environmental impacts of a range of fuel and powertrain options for road vehicles over the period to 2050, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen

Fay Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had about the role hydrogen passenger vehicles can play as part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

Rachel Maclean: Ministers and officials are engaging extensively with UK hydrogen stakeholders including through the Net Zero Transport Board, our strategic priority workshops that ran through July and August and involved over 700 key stakeholders, as well as a number of Ministerial and official roundtables and bi-laterals meetings as we develop the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. We are committed to exploring all the options for green hydrogen across freight, buses, trains, maritime and aviation and ensuring the UK can leads the world in its deployment and use in transport applications.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the level of funding that would be required to decarbonise the maritime sector.

Robert Courts: The Department has undertaken extensive research to consider the level of investment required for the UK’s domestic maritime sector to achieve net zero by 2050. This research comprises a range of scenarios assessing different policy options, including both costs and benefits, and has been published on Gov.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-maritime-plan-maritime-2050-environment-route-map For the global shipping industry, research carried out by UMAS, part of UCL, and published in January 2020, suggests that the total cost to achieve global maritime decarbonisation may be in the region of £1.5 trillion, invested over the next thirty years, with the majority of that investment occurring in the production and supply of alternative fuels.

Invalid Vehicles: Speed Limits

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the speed limit for mobility scooters on UK roads to that in the EU.

Rachel Maclean: The Government has not made an assessment of increasing the speed limits of mobility scooters for use on the roads. The safety of all road users is a key priority for the Government and the current speed limit for mobility scooters is based on both safety and mobility considerations and balances the interests of all road users.

A34: Accidents

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2019 to Question 28460 on A34: Oxfordshire, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) deaths and (b) injuries on the A34 in (i) 2018 and (ii) 2019.

Rachel Maclean: The table below shows the number of fatalities and all casualties in reported road accidents on the A34 in Oxfordshire in 2018. Number of fatalities and all casualties in reported road accidents on the A34 in Oxfordshire in 2018: FatalitiesAll casualties1179All casualties include fatalities Source: DfT STATS19 Data for 2019 will be published on September 30 2020.

Railways: Concessions

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the (a) young person's railcard and (b) 26 to 30 railcard for 12 months to encourage young workers to use the train.

Chris Heaton-Harris: My Department recognises that Railcard holders have been unable to use their cards while travel restrictions were in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are considering a range of options for all Railcard holders. We have not specifically considered the potential merits of extending the Young Person’s Railcard or the 26 to 30 Railcard. We continue to work closely with the Rail Delivery Group and the wider industry to consider how best to support those returning to the railway

Driving Instruction: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of covid-19 social distancing restrictions on learner drivers.

Rachel Maclean: The Secretary of State for Transport has not had any recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions on learner drivers. But the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the part of his department responsible for driver training and testing, understands the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on learner drivers. The agency’s priority throughout the pandemic has been the safety of its staff and customers. That remains its priority as it restarts its services. The agency has developed new COVID-safe risk assessments and standard operating procedures and shared them with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Public Health England (PHE). PHE has said they comply with general public health principles and existing guidance for the reduction of virus transmission risk. The DVSA has also sought similar clearances with the respective public health bodies in Scotland and Wales.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse in each year since charges replaced the original tolls at the Dartford crossing; and what estimate he has made of the time taken to pay for the costs of building the Elizabeth Bridge and funding its long-term maintenance.

Rachel Maclean: The revenue accruing from the Dart Charge is published each year in the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing charging scheme accounts (in the table headed income) which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/search/all?keywords=%22dartford+thurrock%22+accounts&order=relevance. Toll charges were levied until 2003 when the debts associated with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the tunnels had been fully discharged. A Road User Charge was introduced in 2003 to manage the high demand for use of the Crossing after a study reported that traffic levels would be 17% higher if payment was removed. The charges imposed and collected are used to fund transport improvements in accordance with the Transport Act 2000, though not exclusively Dartford-related. The published accounts include figures on the maintenance and operation of the crossing in the expenditure table. The maintenance cost for both the tunnels and Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, for the year ended 31 March 2019, amounted to £11.371 million. This figure included costs for: Expenditure (2018-2019)£000Highways England Staff3,530Safety Scheme4,833EU Tunnel directive on safety1,848Technology projects safety890Network Resilience136Routine maintenance494

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the (a) number of and (b) deficit in MOT testing in each month since March (i) 2019 and (ii) 2020; what estimate he has made of the (A) number of MOT tests required to restore adequate service levels and (B) average number of days before a request for a MOT test is met; and if he will make a statement.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) monitors MOT testing capacity constantly to inform future planning. The agency does not hold data on MOT booking requests as they are made directly to MOT testing stations (cars) or authorised testing facilities (lorries, buses and trailers). For lorries, buses and trailers, where DVSA staff conduct annual road worthiness (MOT) tests, the DVSA has issued a series of exemptions. The deadline for a vehicle’s next test depends on when the MOT was originally due and whether the vehicle qualifies for a 3-month or a 12-month exemption. These exemptions will be automatically applied. The DVSA is confident, with its plan for exemptions in place, that it can deliver to capacity to carry out tests when they are due. DVSA is working with industry to ensure that tests are presented when due, so that demand is managed. For light vehicles, such as cars, where private garages carry out MOTs, a six month extension was applied automatically to all MOTs expiring between 1 April and 31 July 2020. The DVSA is working closely with the industry to help it manage demand for MOTs now extensions are no longer being issued. There is confidence the network of 23,000 garages that conduct MOTs will be able to meet demand for MOTs from light vehicle owners.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Standards

Fay Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve waiting times at the DVLA.

Fay Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the accessibility of the DVLA to people seeking to use its services.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has a range of services available online offering quick and easy ways of transacting. The DVLA’s online services have worked well and as normal throughout the pandemic. Between March and the end of August, the DVLA has issued nearly seven million registration certificates and three and a half million driving licences. The DVLA’s 6,000 staff are largely based at a single site in Swansea and to adhere to Welsh social distancing requirements the number of staff onsite had been greatly reduced. This impacted on the time taken to process applications sent by post as these have to be dealt with in person. The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to maximise staff numbers whilst meeting the requirement in Wales to maintain the two-metre social distancing and ensure it remains Covid secure. Drivers with a licence that expires between 1 February and 31 December 2020 have been given an automatic extension from the date of expiry. This means they will not need to renew their entitlement to drive until 11 months after the original expiry date. The DVLA has also accelerated the development of additional online services to further reduce paper applications and supported their take up through a publicity campaign.

Department for Transport: Ethnic Groups

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of staff who applied for promotion within his Department between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 and identified as (a) BAME and (b) White were successful at each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of resourcing across the Department for Transport (DfT); developing and testing innovative new approaches to attract and hire a more diverse candidate pool. We have clear objectives to increase representation rates to reflect the proportion of BAME individuals in the local working-age population, strengthen our BAME talent pipeline (grades 6 and 7) and our leadership cadre (SCS) as well as increase diversity in roles and professions where BAME staff are underrepresented. The data provided relates to roles advertised by the Department for Transport on the Civil Service Jobs recruitment platform. Any permanent promotion opportunities within the department would be advertised on the platform to allow fair and open competition with an appointment being made on merit in line with the Civil Service Commissioners principles. The data provided is based on identifications of applicants who are currently Civil Servants in any government department or agency, and is not restricted to promotions just from the DfT workforce and covers the Department and its four executive agencies. It does not include the diversity of applicants or successful applicants who were applying from outside the Civil Service. The data can be found in the attached table. The completeness and accuracy of the data above is influenced by the following factors. For vacancies advertised across government, individuals need to have a verified account to confirm their eligibility as existing Civil Servants. As part of their personal profile, Civil Servants are requested to provide their current substantive grade. If individuals have not completed their personal profile we would be unable to identify whether they were promoted. For vacancies advertised externally, individuals have the option to use a privately registered account as there is no requirement for them to confirm that they are existing Civil Servants. This means that in the instance that an existing Civil Servant applies for an externally advertised vacancy using a private account, then we cannot identify whether or not the successful individual is being promoted. In light of this, the data provided may not be comprehensive and would only be indicative of ‘how many and what proportion of Civil Service staff who applied for promotion within his Department between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 and identified as (a) BAME and (b) White were successful at each grade’.   Table of employees on promotion - BAME (docx, 23.6KB)

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Sellafield

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the incident reported at Sellafield on 14 August 2020, what reports his Department has received of the effectiveness of the implementation of the safety changes proposed in the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Assessment of the Sellafield Ltd Analytical Services Second Cycle Long Term Periodic Review, Project Assessment Report ONR-SDFW-PAR-2017-007, dated June 2017; and what matters remain outstanding.

Nadhim Zahawi: Following the incident in 2017, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) issued an enforcement letter to Sellafield Ltd. The letter required the regulator to review and improve their arrangements for managing waste chemicals across the site, including implementing a plan for their disposal or safe storage. Given the large quantity and variety of chemicals held on the site, this has been a significant and complex undertaking.The ONR have maintained oversight of Sellafield Ltd’s progress against the identified actions and its improvement plan through a Regulatory Issue. They are currently content with the progress being made on this matter and will continue with their work to ensure that Sellafield Ltd’s improvements in chemical management on the site are realised fully.As a result of the increased focus on chemicals by Sellafield Ltd, during a routine inspection a potentially unstable chemical was identified. Action was taken to make the site safe and ultimately remove the chemical from the site. The potential exists for further such chemicals to be identified while Sellafield Ltd implements its improvement plan.The ONR are satisfied that Sellafield Ltd’s response to this event was appropriate. The ONR’s inspectors are following up on this incident to determine if any further regulatory action is needed, in accordance with their established arrangements.The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) reported this incident and the subsequent regulatory activity to the Department as part of its regular monthly and quarterly reporting requirements pertaining to regulatory activity and safety at Sellafield. This reporting is regularly reviewed by officials and is further enhanced by regular engagement between the Department, the ONR and the NDA.

Sellafield

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the incident reported at Sellafield on 14 August 2020, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the findings and recommendations of the Sellafield Limited Board of Inquiry report into an incident involving inappropriately managed toxic chemicals discovered on 3 October 2017 at the Sellafield Analytical Services Laboratory (ASL), which was reported in February 2018.

Nadhim Zahawi: Following the incident in 2017, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) issued an enforcement letter to Sellafield Ltd. The letter required the organisation to review and improve their arrangements for managing waste chemicals across the site, including implementing a plan for their disposal or safe storage. Given the large quantity and variety of chemicals held on the site, this has been a significant and complex undertaking.The Board of Inquiry into the events of October 2017 made several recommendations, which Sellafield Ltd undertook to implement. The ONR have maintained oversight of Sellafield Ltd’s progress against the identified actions and improvement plan, through ongoing regulatory activity. The ONR are content with the progress that is continuing to be made on this matter and will maintain their activities and oversight to ensure that Sellafield Ltd’s improvements in chemical management on the site are fully realised.

Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his plans are for the future of the Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government is prepared to support new nuclear projects in the years ahead, if these projects can be delivered at a competitive price that represents value for money for the taxpayer. If we were to take a new nuclear project forward, we would look at appropriate methods to scrutinise proposals for the Funded Decommissioning Programme submitted by the prospective operator.

Horizon 2020

Allan Dorans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to prepare for the UK potentially not associating to Horizon Europe after the transition period.

Amanda Solloway: In tandem with our negotiations to associate to EU programmes we, as a responsible government, are developing alternative schemes to support international research and innovation collaboration. If we do not formally associate to Horizon Europe, we will implement ambitious alternatives as quickly as possible from January 2021 and address the funding gap. We will launch an ambitious new Discovery Fund offering sizeable grants over long periods of time to early, mid and late-career researchers, whether already in the UK or coming here from anywhere in the world, to pursue ground-breaking research. We will scale up and enhance prestigious domestic schemes, providing funding to allow UK researchers and innovators to seize opportunities and to allow our institutions to attract and retain international talent and we will make funding available to allow UK partners to participate in European schemes open to third countries.

Coronavirus: Research

Allan Dorans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support research into the efficacy of a covid-19 vaccine in older people.

Amanda Solloway: The University of Oxford / Astra Zeneca Phase 3 trial includes arms that specifically looks at safety and efficacy of the vaccine in those aged between 56 – 69 and over 70. For these groups, researchers are assessing the immune response to the vaccine in people of different ages, to find out if there is variation in how well the immune system responds in older people. Other vaccine developers that the Government are working with may also decide to include specific groups such as these in their trials. In addition to the work that vaccine developers are undertaking, the Government has funded the NHS Registry, developed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). This national registry is encouraging people who may be disproportionately affected by COVD19, such as older people, older people with underlying health conditions and people from different ethnic groups, to volunteer for clinical trials. This includes supporting the development of communications materials to provide information on taking part in COVID 19 vaccine trials via the NIHR website (Be Part of Research).

New Businesses

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what additional support the Government is providing to help start up businesses establish themselves in the current economy.

Paul Scully: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) aims to make?the UK the best place to start, scale up and grow a business. The Start Up Loans Company, part of the British Business Bank, provides government-backed business loans of up to £25,000 at a fixed interest rate of 6% per annum with repayment terms of 1 to 5 years. As well as finance, every loan recipient is also offered a dedicated mentoring service and access to a free expert business mentor for 12 months to help them with every aspect of setting up a business. At the end of March 2020, the Start Up Loans programme had delivered more than 71,500 loans, providing more than £586 million of funding. For new businesses starting up or for existing businesses wishing to scale up, all advice and guidance – including employee support, tools to identify the right finance, and checklists for setting up the business in line with regulations – the main source of information is the GOV.UK website, with support also available via the Business Support Helpline on FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098 and the British Business Bank online Finance Hub. Start up businesses may also contact the network of 38 local Growth Hubs in England. These are a gateway for local information, guidance, and expertise for businesses across England, including on taxes, finance and funding schemes.

Small Businesses: Discretionary Grants

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason (a) day nurseries and (b) children's indoor play centres were not identified as priority business types in the Discretionary Grant programme.

Paul Scully: The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund was primarily and predominantly aimed at:Small and micro businesses, as defined in Section 33 Part 2 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and the Companies Act 2006;Businesses with relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs;Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis;Businesses which occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payments below £51,000.A number of priority groups were identified, including small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces, following consultation with local authorities.Recognising that economic need varies across the country, local authorities have had the discretion to exercise their local knowledge and have been responsible for defining the precise eligibility for this Fund. Mandatory criteria requires that a business was trading as of 11 March, however local authorities have been allowed to determine which cases to support within those criteria.

Small Businesses: Discretionary Grants

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much of the £617 million of the Government's Discretionary Grant fund has been granted to businesses by local authorities.

Paul Scully: On 1 May, the Government announced up to £617 million available in the form of the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund to support certain small businesses that are not liable for business rates or rates relief and are therefore out of scope of the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. Local authorities were responsible for defining precise eligibility for the scheme in their area, subject to businesses meeting the national eligibility criteria set out in the guidance. Local authorities continue to pay grants to eligible businesses. We will publish data on the amount granted to businesses under the Discretionary Grants Fund in due course and once all payments have been made.

Small Businesses: Discretionary Grants

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what value of grants from the Discretionary Grant Fund have been awarded to (a) small businesses in shared offices or other flexible work spaces, (b) regular market traders with building costs, (c) bed and breakfast businesses and (d) charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates.

Paul Scully: On 1 May, the Government announced up to £617 million available in the form of the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund to support certain small businesses that are not liable for business rates or rates relief and are therefore out of scope of the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. Local authorities were responsible for defining precise eligibility for the scheme in their area, subject to businesses meeting the national eligibility criteria set out in the guidance. Local authorities continue to pay grants to eligible businesses. We will publish data on Discretionary Grants Fund payments to businesses in due course and once all payments have been made. We do not receive management information from local authorities broken down by sector.

Retail Trade: Coronavirus

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of job losses in the retail sector during the covid-19 outbreak an on regional inequalities.

Paul Scully: The Government recognises the impact that the coronavirus is having on retailers and businesses as a whole, which is why we have delivered one of the most generous and comprehensive packages of support globally.. Retailers are benefitting from the removal of business rates for 12 months and have been able to access grants through the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant Fund.Retailers have been able to benefit from The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, and an extension on the moratorium on commercial landlords’ right to forfeiture for the non-payment of rent to 31 December 2020.Additionally the Job Retention Bonus will encourage businesses, including retailers, to keep on furloughed workers, helping to protect jobs and our economic recovery.We have announced a new Plan for Jobs – making available up to £30 billion with a clear goal to create, protect, and support jobs. This includes a new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme creating hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country and £1.6 billion investment in scaling up employment support schemes, training, and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job.We are ramping up and bringing forward investment, creating jobs in every part of the UK. At the Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £88 billion of capital funding for this year. In the New Deal package, we announced our plans to accelerate a further £5 billion of additional investment projects.

Energy: White Papers

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what date he plans to publish his Energy White Paper.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Energy White Paper is a priority and it will be published this Autumn.

Developing Countries: Fossil Fuels

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the outcome of the review into funding support for fossil fuel projects overseas; and what exemptions he plans to include in the Government’s new policy on the provision of UKEF funding.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Government keeps all policy under review and the outcome of any such reviews are published in a timely fashion.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Staff

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many members of staff in their Department have one or more of the words equality, diversity, inclusion, gender, LGBT or race in their job title.

Nadhim Zahawi: There are six members of staff in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy that have equality, diversity, inclusion, gender, LGBT or race in their job title.

Department of Health and Social Care

Shotley Bridge Hospital: Domestic Visits

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, prior to 14 September 2020, when (a) he and (b) another minister in his Department most recently visited  Shotley Bridge Hospital in Consett, Co. Durham.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Insulin and Medical Equipment

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure the uninterrupted provision of (a) Epi-pens and (b) insulin in the event that the UK and EU do not reach a trade agreement by the end of the transition period.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Charities: Protective Clothing

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the availability of personal protection equipment for charities providing frontline care and support for patients with terminal illnesses.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many tests have been taken at each covid-19 testing site in Birmingham on each day since 31 August 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons Mildmay Road covid-19 testing centre in Ilford no longer accepts walk in appointments; and for what reasons the local authority was not informed prior to this change in service.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data the Mildmay Road covid-19 testing centre in Ilford shares with the London Borough of Redbridge council.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many covid-19 walk-in testing centres were made appointment-only on each day from 15 August to 14 September 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Obesity: Health Services

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to publish details of the expansion of weight management services as part of the obesity strategy; and whether that expansion will include specific support for people affected by binge eating disorder.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Food: Labelling

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to consult people (a) with lived experience of eating disorders and (b) experts in the field of eating disorders before introducing calorie labelling on menus.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cap since 13 September 2020 has been on the number of tests that can be done at (a) drive in test centres and (b) walk through test centres; and who is responsible for setting that cap.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract with Lighthouse Labs for managing access to covid-19 testing, what penalties can be imposed under that contract in the event that people cannot secure a test; and who is responsible for monitoring the performance of that contract.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract with Randox for managing access to covid-19 testing, what penalties can be imposed under that contract in the event that people cannot secure a test; and who is responsible for monitoring the performance of that contract.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract with Deloitte for managing access to covid-19 testing, what penalties can be imposed under that contract in the event that people cannot secure a test; and who is responsible for monitoring the performance of that contract.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the contract with Serco for managing access to covid-19 testing, what penalties can be imposed under that contract in the event that people cannot secure a test; and who is responsible for monitoring the performance of that contract.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Protective Clothing: Coronavirus

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria must be met for the Government to review its policy on mandatory face coverings in enclosed spaces.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much additional funding he has made available for (a) cancer drugs, (b) chemotherapy and (c) radiotherapy to help cancer services return to pre-covid-19 levels.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 83754, on Coronavirus: Chesterfield, tabled on 1 September 2020 by the hon. Member for Chesterfield.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 83753, on Coronavirus: Chesterfield, tabled on 1 September 2020 by the hon. Member for Chesterfield.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vitamin D: Coronavirus

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the  implications for its policies of the conclusions of the study by the Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, on the use of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the treatment of covid-19, published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on 29 August 2020.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Members: Correspondence

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made in investigating the matters raised in the letter dated 11 August 2020 from the Rt hon Member for Chipping Barnet regarding decisions made by the Windsor Ascot & Maidenhead Clinical Commissioning Group, now part of NHS East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, on the continuing care of the late Valerie-Anne Culliford.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Professions: Coronavirus

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the effect of local covid-19 restrictions on healthcare workers that rely on childcare provided by extended family members.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Vacancies

Sir Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his oral contribution of 16 July 2020, Official Report, column 1795, what progress his Department has made on developing a support package for care homes with high rates of vacancies.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to support people with Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder; and when he plans next to meet the Independent Foetal Anti-Convulsant Trust.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Musicians: Coronavirus

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if (a) amateur and (b) professional (i) choirs, (ii) orchestras and (iii) music groups that can demonstrate they are covid-secure are exempt from the covid-19 restrictions on the number of people allowed to meet in a group from 14 September 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Abortion: Drugs

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Minister in his Department has responsibility to make an assessment of the effect of the temporary measure to approve both sets of medication for early medical abortion to be taken at home during the covid-19 outbreak; when such information with be made available; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Responsibility for abortion policy within the Department falls within my Ministerial portfolio.The Department continues to closely monitor the impact of the temporary approval for women’s homes to be classed as a place where both sets of medication for early medical abortion can be taken up to 10 weeks gestation.The Government has committed to undertake a public consultation on making permanent the COVID-19 measure allowing for home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation for all eligible women. Further details on the consultation will be available in due course.

Health and Social Services: Quarantine

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what equality impact assessment he has made of the disparity in rules for quarantine upon arrival in the UK for (a) carers of people with disabilities who are either directly employed as a personal assistant or employed through a care agency registered with the Care Quality Commission and (b) health and care workers with proof of professional registration with a UK-based regulator.

Helen Whately: On 8 June new rules for international travellers were introduced in order to reduce the risk of new COVID-19 cases from abroad. An exemption to the requirement to self-isolate was added to allow registered health and care staff to return to England to provide essential healthcare, helping to strengthen the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak and save lives.On 30 July the Government removed the exemption for registered health and care staff, thereby requiring them to self-isolate for 14 days on return from a non-exempt country or territory. The removal of this exemption ensure consistency with wider self-isolation measures and continue to protect public health.

Abortion: Drugs

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the health risks of abortion pills taken at home.

Helen Whately: The Department continues to closely monitor the impact of the temporary approval for women’s homes to be classed as a place where both sets of medication for early medical abortion can be taken up to 10 weeks gestation. Officials have regular meetings with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Care Quality Commission and abortion service providers.The Government has committed to undertake a public consultation on making permanent the COVID-19 measure allowing for home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation for all eligible women. Further details on the consultation will be available in due course.

Abortion: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that temporarily allowed home abortions during the covid-19 outbreak do not place women at increased risk of complications; and whether he will suspend them pending further investigations of these risks.

Helen Whately: The Department is aware of a small number of incidents of concern which we are looking into alongside with the Care Quality Commission and other partners. We continue to closely monitor the impact of the temporary approval for women’s homes to be classed as a place where both sets of medication for early medical abortion can be taken up to 10 weeks gestation.The Government has committed to undertake a public consultation on making permanent the COVID-19 measure allowing for home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation for all eligible women. Further details on the consultation will be available in due course.

Respite Care

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to require a uniform method of recording (a) the provision of respite care across local authorities and (b) whether the person being cared for has dementia; if he will undertake regular assessments of the implications for his policies of respite care data at a national level; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the recommendations in  the Alzheimer’s Society report, The Fog of Support – An inquiry into the provision of respite care and carers assessments for people affected by dementia.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the provision of dementia-specific carers’ respite services since the Prime Minister's statement to the nation on covid-19 on 23 March 2020.

Helen Whately: Day services are an important form of support for people with dementia and their carers. Decisions about opening and delivery of care lie at local authority level, in line with local risk assessments and the latest public health advice. Some services were able to stay open, but others in more complex or closed settings may have closed and may now be looking to re-open or provide services that meet the needs of their communities in alternative ways, subject to any local or national restrictions to prevent the risk of infection. We have worked with the Social Care Institute for Excellence to publish guidance to help make decisions on restarting services and to provide quality care safely. The guidance was published on Friday 10 July.Support groups such as dementia support groups remain exempt from the ‘rule of 6’ that came into force on 14 September. Such groups can take place in COVID-secure settings or public outdoor spaces, if the support group is organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support to its members or those who attend its meetings.Data on day services is not held centrally. Day services may be run by private providers, voluntary organisations or local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning services in their areas. We are working with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services to better understand the current picture relating to day services and alternative arrangements that have been put in place by local authorities and providers with the aim of sharing best practice.The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, local authorities and providers to support those with the need for social care.

Social Services: Coronavirus

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support adult social care providers to prepare for the potential effect of a second wave of covid-19 infections in winter 2020-21.

Helen Whately: The recommendations from the Social Care Sector Covid-19 Taskforce will shape our approach to COVID-19 in the adult social care sector and, in particular, the plans we put in place for winter which we will set out in the Adult Social Care Winter Plan. This will be published shortly.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the criteria are on care home prioritisation for covid-19 home testing kits.

Helen Whately: In June, the following criteria were assessed in order to prioritise sending test kits:- care homes referred to us by Public Health England because they have had a new outbreak;- care homes for older people and those with Dementia that have over 50 beds, then those with 25-50 beds; and- all other care homes.

Social Services: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to publish the Social Care Taskforce plan for supporting the social care sector through the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The recommendations from the Social Care Sector Covid-19 Taskforce will shape our approach to COVID-19 in the adult social care sector and, in particular, the plans we put in place for winter which we will set out in the Adult Social Care Winter Plan. The Taskforce concluded at the end of August and will publish its recommendations in September on what measures need to be in place across all parts of the care sector in England to respond to COVID-19 and winter.

Social Services: Staffordshire

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the social care sector in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Staffordshire during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The recommendations from the Social Care Sector Covid-19 Taskforce will shape our approach to COVID-19 in the adult social care sector and, in particular, the plans we put in place for winter which we will set out in the Adult Social Care Winter Plan. The Taskforce concluded at the end of August and will publish its recommendations in September on the advice on what measures need to be in place across all parts of the care sector in England to respond to COVID-19 and winter.

NHS: Physiotherapy

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to retain physiotherapists who have entered NHS employment temporarily during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: In total, 3,754 physiotherapists have joined the Health and Care Professions Council’s COVID-19 temporary register.A recent survey of returners indicated that around 50% across all professions were interested in continuing to work in the health and social care system.There are existing return to practice schemes designed to support physiotherapists who have been out of the workforce for a number of years to safely re-start their careers.NHS England is working with the Department and other local employing organisations to consider a range of flexible options to make it easier for professionals including physiotherapists who are interested in re-joining the National Health Service workforce to do so.

SUDEP Action

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will meet representatives of SUDEP Action to discuss its research into the effect of covid-19 on (a) people with epilepsy, (b) health professionals and (c) people bereaved by that condition.

Helen Whately: While there are no specific plans to meet representatives of SUDEP Action at this time, the Government is committed to working with the charity sector to utilise their research into epilepsy, and to ensure that the needs and views of the diverse and often specialist stakeholders and services are captured and valued.

Health Professions: Discrimination

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what unconscious bias training his Department offers to healthcare professionals.

Helen Whately: There are elements of the Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Level 1 session, which deal with the concept of unconscious bias. This session is part of the e-Learning for Healthcare Statutory and Mandatory Training Programme and is aimed at all staff, including unpaid and voluntary staff.Individual National Health Service organisations have responsibility for training their own staff and will provide further relevant training where appropriate.

Members: Correspondence

Mr John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letters of 29 April 2020, 7 May 2020 and 18 June 2020 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on Ms Valerie Utting.

Helen Whately: I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 19 August 2020.

Deloitte: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2020 to Question 48980 on Deloitte, if he will set out the total sum of monies paid by his Department to Deloitte for each month of 2020.

Helen Whately: We do not currently hold data in the requested format. However, information on Deloitte's contract with the Department will be published in due course at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Wales Office

Hydrogen: Wales

Fay Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what support his Department is providing to the Welsh hydrogen economy.

Simon Hart: The Government aims to consult on a preferred business model for low-carbon hydrogen production in 2021. This will be key to stimulating the deployment of hydrogen across the UK. In addition, I am pleased to see that the South Wales Industrial Cluster is being supported by UK Research and Innovation’s £170m Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, which is looking at options for decarbonising the region’s industrial base, including using hydrogen. My officials regularly engage with officials in other departments across the UK Government to raise awareness of the opportunities in Wales for hydrogen energy generation.

Department for Education

Schools: Coronavirus

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2020 to Question 58792, what steps the Government has taken to prepare schools to transition to virtual teaching in the event of a (a) localised lockdown and (b) national lockdown due to the covid-19 outbreak in the 2020-21 academic year.

Nick Gibb: The Government has been clear that all pupils, in all year groups, should return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term and on 2 July we published guidance to help schools prepare for this, including advice on the responding to any infections. This includes how schools should manage confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst the school community and contain any outbreak. The guidance can be viewed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.The 2 July guidance set out that every school should plan for the possibility of local restrictions and how they will ensure continuity of education in exceptional circumstances where there is some level of restriction applied to education or childcare in a local area. The Department of Health and Social Care has published an overview of the tiers of restriction for education and childcare, to be implemented only where absolutely necessary, in its contain framework. This can be viewed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/containing-and-managing-local-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreaks/covid-19-contain-framework-a-guide-for-local-decision-makers.We have published guidance on how schools can plan for tier 2 local restrictions due to the operational challenges that schools could experience. This can be viewed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-schools-can-plan-for-tier-2-local-restrictions/how-schools-can-plan-for-tier-2-local-restrictions. The Department has provided a range of resources to support schools in delivering remote education. This includes examples of teaching practice during coronavirus, as well as our work with sector-led initiatives such as Oak National Academy. This can be viewed here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19.We have made £4.84 million available for Oak National Academy both for the summer term of the academic year 2019-20, and then for the 2020-21 academic year to provide video lessons for reception up to year 11 across a range of subjects. There is also specialist content for students with SEND covering their specific educational needs. Oak National Academy will remain a free optional resource for 2020-21.The Department has already invested over £100 million to support remote education, including the delivery of over 220,000 laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children who would not otherwise have access. We are now supplementing this support by making an initial 150,000 additional devices available in the event face-to-face schooling is disrupted as a result of local COVID-19 restrictions.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer on 20 July 2020 to Question 74468 on Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes, what the source of funding was for Edenred's delivery of the School Food Voucher scheme.

Vicky Ford: The government has taken unprecedented and substantial action to ensure that children do not go hungry as we take measures to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, including in relation to free school meals.In the first instance, we asked schools to support eligible pupils at home by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. For circumstances where this was not possible, we also established a national voucher scheme to support schools and families while schools were closed to most pupils.The cost of the vouchers issued to parents under the national voucher scheme and the COVID-19 Summer Food Fund were met by Her Majesty’s Treasury.

Assessments

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with education providers on the timetable for (a) SATs, (b) GCSE, (c) A-level and (d) BTec assessments in the 2020-21 academic year.

Nick Gibb: The Department has confirmed its intention for all existing statutory key stage 1 and 2 assessments (commonly known as SATs) to return in 2020/21, and to take place in accordance with their usual timetable.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education asked Ofqual in June to consider a short delay to the GCSE, A and AS level exam timetable in 2021, to free up additional teaching time. The Department is continuing to work with Ofqual, the exam boards, regulators in the devolved administrations, and groups representing schools, colleges and higher education to consider the best approach, and decisions will be confirmed as soon as possible.The Department has been working with Ofqual regarding requirements for assessments and examinations for vocational and technical qualifications, which include BTEC qualifications. Ofqual is currently consulting and engaging with awarding organisations to agree guidance on how awarding organisations can adapt assessments in 2020/21, including timetabling considerations.

Children: Day Care

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) practical and (b) financial support is available to families that rely on childcare provided by extended family members in areas with additional covid-19 restrictions in place which prevent the mixing of households unless they are in a support bubble.

Vicky Ford: We recognise that extended family members often provide informal childcare. In relevant areas where local restrictions are in place on household mixing, people cannot host others they do not live with, or who are not in their support bubbles, in their homes and gardens. Informal childcare is not exempt from these restrictions.Nationally, our ‘Rule of Six’ guidance specifies the exceptions where groups can be larger than six people, which includes registered childcare and supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups.Parents who need support to obtain suitable childcare to meet their circumstances can contact their local authority for information and guidance about what childcare is available in their area.The government funds a significant package of free and subsidised childcare. All 3 year olds and 4 year olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week, with 30 hours of free childcare available for eligible working parents. The government has acted to protect families that have faced a reduced income as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Parents who who were eligible for the 30 hours free childcare entitlement prior to the COVID-19 outbreak remain eligible until October even if they have experienced a change in income. Disadvantaged 2 year olds are also eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week and eligible working parents may also be eligible for tax-free childcare. Parents can find out more about the free and subsidised childcare offers at: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a series of policies to support people, jobs and businesses on 20 March 2020, during which he confirmed an increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance for 12 months, in addition to planned uprating of 1.7%. The Universal Credit childcare offer remains the same, and working families can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month. This can be claimed up to a month before starting a job. For families with 2 children, this could be worth up to £13,000 a year.Help with up-front childcare costs for starting work is available through a non-repayable Flexible Support Fund (FSF) award for eligible Universal Credit claimants. The FSF received an additional £150 million this financial year to help support Universal Credit claimants to move closer to, or into, work. Help with up-front costs for eligible Universal Credit claimants is available through Budgeting Advances.

Outdoor Recreation: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to publish re-opening guidance for residential outdoor activity centres as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nick Gibb: The guidance for full school opening advises against overnight educational visits at this time. We continue to review this position and should the situation change, the Department will update related guidance accordingly. The guidance can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

Further Education: Finance

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education of 7 September 2020, Official Report, column 349, on Further Education College Finances, if he will publish a list of the 40 further education colleges officials of his Department are working with to help structure their finances.

Gillian Keegan: The department does not release information on specific colleges we are working with as this is commercially sensitive.Where colleges are expecting that they will face financial pressures, the Education and Skills Funding Agency and Further Education Commissioner teams are working directly with the college to ensure that there is the right support in place and that learners are protected.

Neurofibromatosis: Pupils

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that schools are aware of the social, psychological and health problems that pupils with neurofibromatosis 1 may have.

Vicky Ford: The government is committed to pupils with medical conditions being properly supported at school so that they have full access to education.In 2014, the government introduced a new duty on schools to support all pupils with medical conditions and has published statutory guidance on this for schools and others. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.The guidance does not specify which medical conditions should be supported in schools. Instead, it focuses on how to meet the needs of each individual child and how their medical condition impacts on school life.Governing bodies must ensure that arrangements are in place in schools to support pupils at school with medical conditions, and that school leaders consult health and social care professionals, pupils and parents to ensure that the needs of these children are properly understood and effectively supported.

Education: Coronavirus

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department is providing to schools to help disadvantaged pupils catch-up on time missed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford: All children have had their education disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, but it is likely that disadvantaged and vulnerable groups will have been hardest hit. The government has announced a catch-up package worth £1 billion, including a catch-up premium worth a total of £650 million to support schools to make up for lost teaching time. To help schools make the best use of this funding, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published a support guide for schools, which is available here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/national-tutoring-programme/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/#nav-covid-19-support-guide-for-schools1.The guidance includes evidence-based approaches to catch-up for all students and a further school planning guide: 2020 to 2021, which is available here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/guide-to-supporting-schools-planning/.Alongside this universal grant, a National Tutoring Programme worth £350 million will deliver proven, successful interventions to the most disadvantaged young people. Research shows high-quality individual and small group tuition can add up to five months of progress for disadvantaged pupils.Schools continue to receive the pupil premium, worth almost £2.4 billion this year. We strongly encourage school leaders to review their Pupil Premium Strategy to ensure that it responds to the needs of pupils as they resume learning in the autumn term.

Special Educational Needs: Reviews

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Government’s SEND review is conducted (a) promptly and (b) thoroughly.

Vicky Ford: The government remains fully committed to a thorough and fundamental review of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.The issues that the SEND system face are complex, but we are determined to deliver real, lasting improvements, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.I have met with many stakeholders across the SEND sector, to ensure that the review responds to the concerns of families and representative organisations.The findings of the review will be published as soon as it is practicable to do so.

Department for International Trade

Food: Import Duties

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate she has made of the additional annual cost to UK food and drink manufacturing businesses of the application of the published UK global tariff.

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what information she holds on the potential effect of the application of the published UK global tariff on the average weekly family grocery purchase.

Greg Hands: The UK Global Tariff (UKGT) is tailored to the UK economy and balances the interests of UK consumers and producers. It is a lower tariff regime than the EU’s Common External Tariff. In designing the UKGT, we assessed all available evidence submitted during the public consultation in depth and considered a range of factors, such as the five principles set out in the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018. The UKGT eliminates tariffs on imports where the UK has limited domestic production, which may lower cost pressures for UK households and businesses. We will publish more analysis in the Taxation Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the legislation, as is standard practice.

Free Trade: USA

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether officials from her Department attended the launch events in (a) London or (b) Washington DC on 18 September 2018 for the Ideal US-UK Free Trade Agreement, published by The Initiative for Free Trade and The Cato Institute.

Greg Hands: One junior Department for International Trade (DIT) official attended the London event in order to take a readout, and no DIT officials attended the Washington, DC event.

Free Trade: USA

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions (a) officials  and (b) Ministers in her Department have had since 27 September 2017 with external (i) individuals and (ii) organisations involved in the production of the document entitled the Ideal US-UK Free Trade Agreement, published by the Initiative for Free Trade and the Cato Institute on 18 September 2018 on the (A) development and (B) contents of that document.

Greg Hands: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Riot Control Weapons: Chile

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many licences for the export of 12 gauge rubberised buckshot TEC Harseim ammunition to Chile have been granted in the last 12 months.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: None.

Board of Trade: Meetings

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2020 to Question 86738, when the date and location of the next board of trade meeting will be advertised.

Graham Stuart: I refer the Hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown to the answer given to him by my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade on 11 September 2020, UIN: 86738.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Gender: Equality

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to (a) retain and (b) promote the Strategic Vision for Gender Equality.

Wendy Morton: Advancing gender equality and women's rights are a core part of the UK Government's mission, and Global Britain's role as a force for good in the world, including fulfilling every girl's right to 12 years of quality education. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to this agenda.The new FCDO will continue to be a progressive force for women and girls, including for their sexual and reproductive health and rights and ensuring that their needs are central to our COVID-19 humanitarian response. We will work closely with partners across HMG to leverage the best development, diplomatic, defence and trade approaches to achieve maximum impact.As part of the launch of the new Department, we will refresh and build on existing strategies, as well as develop new approaches, but we do not see the core ambitions of the Strategic Vision for Gender Equality changing. The challenges of advancing girls' education, sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), women's political empowerment, women's economic empowerment and ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) are as acute now, if not more so, as when we published the strategy in 2018.

Russia: Minority Groups

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has held with the Russian Government regarding the treatment of minority groups in Russia; whether he has made representations regarding the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses to his Russian counterpart; and what further steps he is taking to work with international partners to highlight the treatment of minority groups in Russia.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mexico: Protestantism

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on freedom of religion or belief of the case of six Protestant Christian families in El Encanto village, Las Margaritas Municipality, Chiapas Mexico, who had their electricity cut off on 27 July 2020 because they refused to sign an agreement which obliged them to participate in religious activities associated with the Catholic religion and to help with the upkeep of the local Catholic church building.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mexico: Freedom of Religion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief in Mexico.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to appoint a new FCDO Special Envoy for Gender Equality.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Religious Freedom

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Departmental officials who work in countries with significant freedom of religion or belief violations are using his Department's freedom of religion or belief toolkit to help tackle that issue.

Nigel Adams: The FCDO has developed a workshop that helps our staff in overseas Posts to implement our toolkit on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The Freedom of Religion or Belief toolkit was developed with input from legal and academic experts, and is intended to support FCDO human rights officers as they promote and protect this human right, and respond to violations or abuses of it (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/561516/Freedom_of_Religion_or_Belief_Toolkit_-_2016.pdf). Colleagues in Posts are encouraged to report to the Department on FoRB issues in their host countries on a regular basis.

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Afghanistan on the protection of minorities, particularly Afghan Hindus and Sikhs in that country.

Nigel Adams: We continue to urge the Government of Afghanistan to ensure that the rights of minorities are protected, in line with the Afghan Constitution. The Minister of State for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, last raised human rights with the Afghan Foreign Minister on 14 May. Most recently, the UK's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Alison Blake CMG, discussed citizens' rights with Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on 3 September. The UK strongly condemns the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs. The Minister publicly condemned the 25 March attack in Kabul on a Sikh Gurdwara.

Democracy and Human Rights

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will invite submissions from civil society during the process of preparing his Department’s Human Rights and Democracy report.

Nigel Adams: We regularly engage with a wide range of civil society organisations globally on human rights issues and value their contributions in achieving our foreign policy and development priorities. This engagement will be reflected in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's 2020 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report to be published in 2021.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Religious Freedom

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make protecting freedom of religion or belief a priority for his Department.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it remains his Department's policy to implement the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s Review of the FCO’s work to support persecuted Christians.

Nigel Adams: Defending the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all is a priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The UK Government has committed to implement the Bishop of Truro's 22 recommendations in full, in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief. Over half of the recommendations have either been implemented, or are in progress, and work is continuing to implement the remainder.

Bahrain: Political Prisoners

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of (a) the article written by Bahraini political prisoner and rights activist Ali AlHajee, published by the Independent on 15 August 2020 and (b) Mr AlHajee’s request that the Government call for the release of all political prisoners in Bahrain.

James Cleverly: We are aware of the allegations contained in Mr Al Hajee's article, which have been investigated by Bahrain's independent human rights oversight bodies. The UK Government takes note of a number of sources of information on Bahrain when making assessments. Our latest assessment was published as part of our Human Rights and Democracy Report in July 2020.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Training

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the Department spent on unconscious bias training in each of the last five years.

Nigel Adams: There are three ways the FCDO supports staff in this learning: by direct access to the Civil Service Learning (CSL) website, by accessing CSL via the FCDO's internal learning system, Global Learning Opportunities (GLO), or by learning provided by specialists and learning champions overseas. There is no cost to departments for the online CSL unconscious bias training. We do not hold any data centrally for unconscious bias courses delivered overseas or for earlier periods.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Staff

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether civil servants in the (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) Department for International Development will see a change in their legal employer on the formation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Nigel Adams: As employees are and will remain Crown employees, there is technically no change of employer due to the merger. However, all staff affected by the merger have been advised that they transferred into the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 2 September.

Government Departments: Data Protection

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with other Departments to protect the UK from cyber security breaches carried out by (a) Russia and (b) other countries.

James Cleverly: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Aid

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish details of the £2.9 billion reduction in Official Development Assistance planned 2020.

James Cleverly: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Education: Females

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when (a) existing and (b) planned girls' education programmes have been paused or cancelled as a result of the change in the level of Official Development Assistance in 2020.

James Cleverly: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities on the execution of Navid Afkari.

James Cleverly: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 77846 on Bahrain: Capital punishment, if he will set out the international standards referred to in the Answer

James Cleverly: Our support for Bahrain fully complies with our international human rights obligations as it is dependent on a robust assessment under the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance process, which requires that recognised human rights and other risks must be considered prior to providing assistance, including an assessment of the potential impact of any proposed assistance, and the identification of mitigation measures against the risk that assistance might directly or significantly contribute to a violation. Furthermore, our assistance is regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure it continues to deliver against these standards, and is often delivered in cooperation with respected international partners such as the United Nations Development Programme.

Israel: Palestinians

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report to the UN Human Rights Council of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, dated 15 July 2020, what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on ending all measures amounting to collective punishment of Palestinians including the closure of Gaza.

James Cleverly: We have serious concerns about the use of punitive acts against the families of Palestinians who have been accused of violent acts by Israel, including Israel's policy of demolitions to destroy the homes belonging to suspected Palestinian terrorists or their families. Such punishments, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to international humanitarian law. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have registered concerns about this policy with Israeli authorities. The UK also remains deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza. We continue to stress to the Israeli authorities the damage that their restrictions are doing to the economy and to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza. There remains an urgent need for all parties to reach an agreement that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict in Gaza.

Israel: Palestinians

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the rate of (a) demolitions and (b) confiscations of (i) Palestinian homes and (ii) other structures by Israel in 2020 compared to the last five years.

James Cleverly: The UK is concerned by the demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We also remain concerned about Israeli confiscations of Palestinian homes and structures. These practices are harmful to the peace process. We continue to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms for zoning, planning and permitting in Area C for the benefit of the Palestinian population, including by facilitating local Palestinian participation in such processes.

Saudi Arabia: Immigrants

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Saudi Arabian authorities on the forceful detention of African migrants in covid-19 detention centres in that country.

James Cleverly: We are monitoring the situation closely, as we always do on human rights issues. In July, I met with the Head of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, Dr Awwad al-Awwad, to discuss our human rights concerns. Lord Ahmad also discussed our concerns with Dr al-Awwad in June, including on human trafficking and migrant workers' rights. It is important that we work collectively to respond to the unprecedented threat of COVID-19 to limit the spread of the virus and to mitigate its negative impacts, whilst simultaneously respecting fundamental human rights.

Abduljalil Abdulla al-Singace

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to reports of ongoing medical negligence in Jau Prison in Bahrain of (a) inmates not being provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) despite cases of covid-19 and (b) Dr Abduljalil AlSingace not receiving medical treatment, if the Government will make urgent representations to the Government of Bahrain on provision of appropriate (i) PPE and (ii) treatment for Dr AlSingace.

James Cleverly: We are not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bahrain's prisons. The Government of Bahrain has made clear that access to appropriate medical care for those in detention continues to be guaranteed, which means under normal circumstances that any prisoner wishing to see a doctor is taken to the prison clinic, with referral to specialist facilities where required; but that as part of Bahrain's COVID-19 precautions, all initial medical consultations now take place via video calls. Where necessary, physical appointments with external medical specialists continue to be available, although, in line with guidance issued by the World Health Organization, prisoners seeing external specialists are required to isolate for 10 days in a separate detention facility before returning to prison ensuring the safety of both patients and medical staff. We welcome these assurances from the Government of Bahrain, urge continued transparency and would encourage those with any concerns about treatment in detention to raise them with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body.

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason the Government is yet to join the other permanent members of the UN Security Council in ratifying Protocol V of the Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons.

James Cleverly: The UK is fully committed to the humanitarian aims of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and has ratified four of the Convention's five protocols. The UK already abides by the spirit of Protocol V and is assessing its position with regard to ratification.

Palestinians: Textbooks

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts in response to reports that the EU's review into the Palestinian curriculum presents Israeli textbooks as those published by the Palestinian Authority.

James Cleverly: The UK Government has a zero tolerance approach towards incitement to violence and lobbied our European partners to conduct a thorough independent review of textbooks used in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which is now underway. This review is ongoing, and the final report is not due until the end of 2020. We will study its findings carefully.The UK does not comment on leaked reports. Our European partners have been clear that the study does not look at Israeli textbooks. We understand that the methodology of the study will include a separate section on a very limited sample of textbooks used in East Jerusalem and modified by Israel for the purpose of comparison.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department plans to provide to vulnerable Palestinians through the £2.7m UK aid package that he announced on 25 August 2020.

James Cleverly: The Foreign Secretary recently announced a £2.7 million UK aid package to UN agencies to help provide food assistance, medical supplies and personal protection for the most vulnerable Palestinians. This includes food vouchers for over 120,000 people for one month to prevent malnutrition; cash assistance for 1,114 households for eight months and personal protection for frontline doctors and aid workers to stop the spread of the virus.

Developing Countries: Religion

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that religious identity is not a barrier to equal access to UK Official Development Assistance.

James Cleverly: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) use of country context analysis has increased the extent to which religious dynamics and religious groups are factored into all of our country programmes. The FCDO undertakes interdisciplinary analysis of a country's politics, society, state and economy to identify the most significant problems that hinder development and the main entry points and opportunities to create change. There is a strong emphasis on how politics, security, and demographics interact with economic growth and human development. This includes the role of religion and the persecution of religious minorities.The FCDO is committed to working with all its partners, including faith-based organisations, to ensure that the most vulnerable people and groups are prioritised for humanitarian assistance, in line with international humanitarian principles. This includes religious and ethnic groups who are at risk of discrimination and persecution. We work closely with our partners to ensure they are rigorously assessing vulnerability and needs (including those linked with religious identity), ahead of allocating assistance, as well as conducting robust monitoring to ensure that aid is reaching those most in need.

Taiwan: Sustainable Development

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen its co-operation with Taiwan on achieving and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government welcomes the contribution Taiwan voluntarily makes to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, despite not being a member state of the UN, and we continue to work closely with Taiwan on this and other matters. We enjoy a constructive relationship covering a range of issues through organisations where statehood is not a prerequisite, such as the WTO and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. The UK believes that the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern and this includes on sustainable development.

Myanmar: Rohingya

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support he is providing to the International Criminal Court Investigation ICC-01/19 of crimes against the Rohingya people.

Nigel Adams: The UK wants to see accountability for atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK provides both practical and financial support to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UK currently contributes 8.4% of the ICC's total budget. ICC investigations are funded through this annual programme budget.

China: Military Exercises

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) his Chinese counterpart on the China’s People’s Liberation Army large-scale military exercises in airspace southwest of Taiwan on September 9 and 10, and (b) his Taiwanese counterpart on maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Nigel Adams: We oppose any action which raises tensions in the region and hinders the chances of peaceful settlement of any issues. The Foreign Secretary has not discussed the military exercises in the Taiwan Strait that occurred on 9 and 10 September with anyone in the region, but all our international partners are clear on the UK's longstanding position

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Crime

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel and (b) veterans were charged for crimes which allegedly took place during overseas operations in each of the last 20 years.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel and (b) veterans were convicted for crimes which allegedly took place during overseas operations in each of the last 20 years.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in each case in which a (a) member or (b) veteran of the armed forces has been charged for a crime which allegedly took place during an overseas operation over the last 20 years, what length of time passed between the alleged criminal act and charges filed.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for each case in which a (a) veteran or (b) member of the armed forces has been convicted of a crime which took place during an overseas operation over the last 20 years, what length of time passed between the criminal act and conviction.

Johnny Mercer: As this data is not held centrally it is taking some time to compile, and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

HMS Queen Elizabeth: Coronavirus

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the second covid-19 outbreak onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth on the outcome of training exercises involving the vessel.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what additional steps are being taken onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth to prevent further outbreaks of covid-19 onboard the vessel.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the latest outbreak of covid-19 onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth will effect the vessel's ability to declare carrier strike capability ahead of its first operational deployment in 2021.

James Heappey: Extensive COVID-19 quarantine and testing procedures were developed and successfully employed, prior to sailing in UK waters, and these continue to be refined. Although there was a two-day delay for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH sailing, extant measures have proven our ability to detect, contain and manage COVID-19 ahead of bringing the Strike Group together. We remain on track, ensuring our ability to deliver training exercises, declare Initial Operating Capability (Carrier Strike) and conduct the first operational deployment in 2021, all as scheduled.Individuals who present as symptomatic or who have tested positive have been isolated ashore and, while at sea, any individual who experiences symptoms will be isolated onboard in accordance with Public Health England guidelines and receive the appropriate medical attention. We continue to work with the NHS Test and Trace system to ensure the virus does not spread further, and with Public Health England to ensure all appropriate control measures are in place.

Navy: Fisheries

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a minesweeper currently in operation will contribute to fisheries protection after the transition period.

James Heappey: Royal Navy Minehunters are not currently scheduled to contribute to fisheries protection after the transition period.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July to Question 68798, how many alleged breaches or violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen took place in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019 and (f) 2020 to date.

James Heappey: Disaggregating the number of alleged instances of breaches or violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen listed on the "Tracker" database would be misleading without the addition of sensitive contextual information, which I am withholding as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

Ministry of Defence: Equality

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) the role and (b) cost to the public purse is of his Department's director of diversity and inclusion.

Johnny Mercer: The senior leadership of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), military and civilian, is committed to improving Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) across the Department. We know we are not sufficiently diverse, not yet reflecting the society we defend and serve, and we are determined to deliver tangible progress at pace. The Department has recently set Levels of Ambition for D&I, backed by action plans that will be regularly assured and reported on. There is a palpable energy for change, from across Defence personnel, and to harness this and create real momentum we have directed that D&I will be a high-priority programme, taken forward on a sustained and enduring basis, across the whole of Defence. To lead this exciting agenda, we are seeking to appoint a senior D&I professional as Director and Senior Responsible Officer. The successful candidate will develop and deliver the Department’s D&I Plan and will hold our Executive Committee to account, putting the Department’s D&I work on a programmatic footing in order to make an enduring step change in momentum and drive actions at all levels to bring about substantive improvements for the whole MOD workforce, both Service and civilian. They will set D&I policy, refresh D&I strategy and assure delivery against actions plans by Defence, Top Level Budgets, Chiefs and Director Generals, together supporting around 240,000 personnel. This post attracts a salary of £110,000 and offers a Civil Service pension. However, if the successful candidate is an existing Civil Servant, they will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules meaning if they are taking up post on level transfer they will retain their existing salary. Candidates on promotion will either have their current salary increased by ten per cent or receive the starting salary for a Senior Civil Servant (Pay Band 2) role which is £92,000 (whichever is higher).

Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-21

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill on the number of convictions of armed forces personnel.

Johnny Mercer: The Impact Statement for the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill was published on 17 September.It is not possible to estimate how many potential future prosecutions will not proceed as a result of the statutory presumption against prosecution measure as there is limited available data. In addition, it would not be appropriate for the Government to "play prosecutor" and try to assess what decision a prosecutor might have made in an historical case if the presumption measure had been in place at the time.

Department for Work and Pensions

Unemployment: UK Relations with EU

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she had made of the potential effect of not reaching an agreement on the future relationship with the EU on unemployment levels in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Jobcentres: Recruitment

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work coach (a) recruitment campaigns and (b) hires there were in each of the last 12 months.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether claimants for the new version of jobseekers allowance are entitled to universal credit when their claim expires after six months.

Will Quince: A claimant in receipt of New Style JSA may wish to claim Universal Credit and benefit calculators are available on the GOV.UK website to help people identify potential eligibility across the welfare system. New Style Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) claimants retain legacy benefit earnings, pension and payment rules.This is different to those for Universal Credit. Therefore, if a claimant starts working more than 16 hours per week the claim will close and they will not be able to benefit from the tailored features of Universal Credit, such as the taper and work allowance. New Style JSA and Universal Credit can be paid in parallel from the start of a claim and is considered to be a ‘dual claim’. This may be in circumstances such as where the award of New Style JSA is nil and is therefore a National Insurance credits only claim. Payments of New Style JSA are taken into account as unearned income in the Universal Credit monthly assessment period. Universal Credit conditionality applies and the detail of what a claimant must do to meet their work-related requirements are set out in their Universal Credit claimant commitment, which must be accepted for a New Style JSA and Universal Credit claim, as this remains a condition of entitlement.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new universal credit claims made since 3 May 2020 were unsuccessful; what proportion of those claims were unsuccessful because of income and capital rules; and what proportion of (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful universal credit claimants were eligible for contributory (i) jobseekers allowance and (ii) employment and support allowance since 3 May 2020.

Will Quince: The Department has been working to ensure we get support as quickly as possible to those individuals and households most financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It has been a longstanding principle of Universal Credit (UC) that an assessment of earnings, other income and capital is needed to establish eligibility to target support to those most in need. There may be several reasons why someone is not eligible to receive UC, will have received a nil award or withdrew their claim. Among other reasons, this includes:speculative claims which were subsequently withdrawn;found new employment (which may at present include being rehired under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or taken advantage of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme);redundancy payments affecting their entitlement;the last month’s salary taken account. The key principle of UC is that it’s calculated based on income, so if someone’s income from work drops, their UC payment will rise to top it up;their claim may have been found to be fraudulent; andIndividuals may have capital saved above the £16,000 limit for UC entitlement. Between 4 May and 23 June inclusive there were 702,000 declarations made to Universal Credit, all of which are processed. Of these58% received a UC payment9% had a nil award due to earnings6% were withdrawn by the claimant1% closed due to ineligibility regarding capital rules20% closed due to other ineligibility reasons7% have outstanding verification preventing paymentPercentages may not total 100% due to rounding Claimants move from existing benefits to UC when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. We do not centrally collate the number of claimants that have made a new claim to UC as a result of such a change in circumstances.

Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many covid 19-related workplace inspections the Health and Safety Executive undertook in each of the last six months; and what the outcome was of each of those inspections.

Mims Davies: The table below provides details of Covid specific site visits carried out by the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) operational staff in each of the last 6 months and up until 15th September 2020. Where an outcome has been recorded this has been provided below and please note that there will be some instances where an outcome has not yet been recorded.   MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugust1st - 15th SeptemberTotalNo. of Covid Site Vists1351261591,8201,1034753,721No Action Taken11041479135322161,761Verbal Advice-1255616193791951,322Written Correspondence-13243716511134384Enforcement Notices served--6133115368 Notes: i) As the above data is taken from a live operational database it is subject to change e.g. when the outcome of an inspection is determined and recorded, due to the delay between a site visit and details being recorded onto the database and as a result of data quality checks. ii) The data also does not include site visits for other purposes which may have addressed Covid issues e.g. investigations of reported accidents and workplace concerns and inspections carried out for other purposes.

Employment: Disability

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing to help disabled people (a) find and (b) remain in employment during the covid-19 outbreak.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government has put in place a range of provision to help disabled people find and stay in work across the country. Our programmes include Access to Work, Disability Confident, specialised employment support including the Work and Health Programme and the Intensive Personalised Employment Support Programme, and local trials in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care. During the Covid-19 outbreak, we have provided this support remotely and made the Work and Health and Intensive Personalised Employment Support programmes easier to access by allowing self-referrals as well as referrals through work coaches.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of households with children subject to the benefit cap; and what assessment she has made of the correlation between that cap and levels of rent arrears among those families.

Mims Davies: As published in August here, there are 132,900 households with children that had their benefits capped at May 2020. No assessment has been made of the level of rent arrears among these households. Claimants can approach their Local Authority for a Discretionary Housing Payment if they need additional support to meet rental costs.

Jobcentres: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent work coaches there are in her Department.

Mims Davies: As at 31 August 2020, c14,000 full-time equivalents were employed on Work Coach activity.

Universal Credit: Darlington

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support people transitioning from legacy benefits to universal credit in Darlington constituency.

Will Quince: We currently spend over £95 billion a year on working age benefits including Universal Credit and remain committed to supporting the most vulnerable in society. Recent changes to Universal Credit include temporarily increasing the standard allowance by up to £1,040 per year and increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates, including the Shared Accommodation element, so that it covers the lowest 30% of local market rents benefiting over one million households by £600 a year on average. The Department has delivered a number of improvements to support claimants during their first assessment period, such as removing waiting days and paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit on to Universal Credit a two week ‘transitional housing payment’. Since July 2020, an additional two-week run has been introduced to assist eligible claimants moving from Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (IR) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB). Advance payments are available so nobody has to wait five weeks for payment. We are also doubling the number of work coaches across our network of jobcentres, from 13,500 to 27,000, so that every jobseeker receives tailored support to get back on their feet, build skills and move into work We recognise that some people will need extra help to successfully establish a claim to Universal Credit. Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, have supported in excess of 250,000 individuals through ‘Help to Claim’ since April 2019, offering tailored and practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim and up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. ‘Help to Claim’ is funded by the Department and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face in locations including Jobcentres and Citizen’s Advice offices.

Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2020 to Question 52243 on Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illness, when her Department plans to publish the outcome of the review into how the benefits system supports people who are terminally ill, announced in July 2019.

Justin Tomlinson: As I stated during recent oral questions [Hansard, 14 September 2020, Column 3]. The evaluation took longer due to covid-19. It has shown that there are three themes: the need to change the six-month rule, to improve consistency and to raise awareness of the support. The Department is working at pace across government to bring forward proposals.

Financial Services: Advisory Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a training programme for pension and finance professionals to ensure they can more readily identify scam risks.

Guy Opperman: The Government is committed to working closely with industry, regulators and pension scheme providers to help identify and prevent scams, it is working with Project Bloom, the Pension Regulator led taskforce, to stop scams and co-ordinate action against offenders. Through Project Bloom, DWP works with other government departments, regulators, enforcement agencies and the pensions industry to monitor the evolution of scam typology and respond with a collective and coordinated response. Project Bloom is examining the range of measures that all agencies including providers and financial professionals could take to help prevent scams. DWP will consider with Project Bloom, industry and the regulators the feasibility of how a training programme could be developed. This would build on training individual providers already provide for their people.

Pensions: Fraud

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with (a) pension regulators, (b) pension providers and (c) HMRC on encouraging victims of pensions scams to report that scam.

Guy Opperman: Through Project Bloom, DWP works with other government departments, regulators, enforcement agencies and the pensions industry to monitor the evolution of scam typology and respond with a collective and coordinated response. Project Bloom is examining the range of measures that all agencies including providers and financial professionals could take to help prevent scams. DWP consistently works with other organisations to raise awareness of pension scams and encourage reporting, including regular campaigns, from the Financial Conduct Authority and the Pensions Regulator, conducted through the ScamSmart branding. Alongside promoting what to look out for to recognise a pension scam, the ScamSmart campaigns and website encourage people to report when they think they have been scammed. These messages are proving effective, in the most recent campaign prior to Covid-19, June to September 2019 over 222,000 visited the ScamSmart website to find out how to identify a scam scheme and report a scam. The Government, working with the regulators and the Money and Pension Service communicates with pension savers to alert them to the risk of scams in the current climate. DWP continues to communicate regularly on social media to set out the warning signs of a scam and has made 18 posts referencing Pension Scams and ScamSmart in total across Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn in the period March to September 2020. A joint statement was issued by The Pension Regulator, Financial Conduct Authority, and Money Advice and Pension Service on 7 April pointing to the actions members should take to help safeguard against scams. Additional guidance was issued to trustees, and providers from both The Financial Conduct Authority and the Pensions Regulator to support them to produce suitable communications during the Covid-19 outbreak. Please see links below for more information about the joint statement from Regulators and the Money Advice Service, and help available, produced by the Pension Protection Fund and supported by government. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/covid-19-savers-stay-calm-dont-rush-financial-decisions https://www.ppf.co.uk/sites/default/files/file-2020-05/COVID-19-and-your-pension.pdf

Pensions: Fraud

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential increase in pension scams since the covid-19 outbreak.

Guy Opperman: Through Project Bloom, DWP works with other government departments, regulators, enforcement agencies and the pensions industry to monitor the evolution of scam typology and respond with a collective and coordinated response. Project Bloom is examining the range of measures that all agencies including providers and financial professionals could take to help prevent scams. At the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, the Department convened a cross-government and regulator group to closely monitor and respond to any increase in transfers and scams. The group includes DWP, HMT, both the Pensions Regulator and the FCA as well as the Money and Pensions Service and the Pension Ombudsman. This is supported by cross government and regulator gathering, monitoring and evaluating of data in order to develop as complete and robust a picture as possible. At this point the Department doesn’t yet have any robust evidence showing an increase in pension scams activity but will continue to monitor across the industry. In addition to active monitoring, the Government, working with the regulators and the Money and Pension Service has been communicating with pension savers to alert them to the risk of scams in the current climate. DWP continues to communicate regularly on social media out the warning signs of a scam. A joint statement was issued by The Pension Regulator, Financial Conduct Authority, and Money Advice and Pension Service on 7 April pointing to the actions members should seek to take to safeguard against becoming victims of scams. Additional guidance was issued to trustees, and providers from both The Financial Conduct Authority and the Pensions Regulator to support them to produce suitable communications during the Covid-19 outbreak. Please see links below for more information about the joint statement from Regulators and the Money Advice Service, and help available, produced by the Pension Protection Fund and supported by government. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/covid-19-savers-stay-calm-dont-rush-financial-decisions https://www.ppf.co.uk/sites/default/files/file-2020-05/COVID-19-and-your-pension.pdf

Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claims in each parliamentary constituency had deductions taken from them in the most recent month for which data is available; what the average deduction was in each constituency; and what proportion of each sum was deducted to repay advance payments.

Will Quince: The requested information surrounding deductions to Universal Credit payments by parliamentary constituency is shown in the attached table. Universal Credit advance repayments are made gradually over 12 months, and deductions are capped at 30% of claimants’ standard allowance. This is further to the reduction of the overall maximum level of deductions from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance since October 2019. From October 2021, the repayment period will be extended from 12 months to 24 months and the reduction of the deductions cap from 30% to 25%. For those who find themselves in unexpected hardship, advance repayments can be deferred for up to three months in certain cases.88351 Attachment (xlsx, 95.2KB)

Pensions: Fraud

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have contacted Action Fraud on potential pension scams since the covid-19 outbreak.

Guy Opperman: The Government continues to work with Regulators and the Police to prevent scams and this has continued during Covid-19. In the period March – July 2020, 116 reports of pension fraud were received by Action Fraud, compared to 179 for the same period in 2019. In recognition of the potential impact of Covid-19 on individual’s pensions savings the Department convened a cross-government and regulator group, to closely monitor and respond to any increase in transfers and scams. Regulators, Police and Action Fraud have confirmed that to date no evidence has emerged to demonstrate an increase in either transfers or scams, based on their internal monitoring of the industry. Although this is encouraging Government recognises it needs to continue to monitor and react to the changing environment.

Universal Credit

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that increased time frames for personal independence payment renewals do not prevent people whose PIP is no longer paid from accessing universal credit's limited capability for work related activity element when their income is above the conditionality earnings threshold and stopping them from having a universal credit work capability assessment.

Justin Tomlinson: As I stated during recent oral questions [Hansard, 14 September 2020, Column 6] the Department has supported disabled customers during the Covid outbreak by automatically extending existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards. As PIP payments are unaffected until any review activity has been completed, the circumstances whereby an individual loses access to Universal Credit's limited capability for work and work related activity element do not arise.

Employment: Coronavirus

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support people of all ages back into work as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Mims Davies: I refer the Rt. Hon. member to my response to question 43982.

Pensions: Fraud

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with HMRC on its investigation of tax rule breaches arising from pension scams.

Guy Opperman: Tax liabilities relating to unauthorised payments and HMRC’s investigation of tax rules arising from pension scams are the responsibility of HMT. DWP will continue to work closely with HMRC to understand their position and how these may impact the Pensions Schemes Bill and savers. Government continues to work with regulators and industry to protect consumers and find the best ways of preventing pension scams. HMRC and DWP have held regular discussions relating to the enhanced protection measures in the Pension Scheme Bill 2020.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Flood Control: South Yorkshire

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has held with regional stakeholders in South Yorkshire on (a) the winter 2019 floods and (b) flood defence support in the last 12 months.

Rebecca Pow: The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, local communities and businesses and sympathises with all those affected. Following the winter 2019-20 flooding, the Secretary of State, myself and the department have been actively engaging with regional stakeholders. As Minister for floods I engaged in a Westminster Hall debate focused on the flooding in South Yorkshire over the winter. This was attended by the hon Members for Barnsley East, Kingston upon Hull North, Rother Valley, Newport West, and the Rt Hon Member for Doncaster North. I have also met with the hon Member for Don Valley to discuss the impact of the winter floods and Sheffield City region's planned investment programme. A number of hon Members from South Yorkshire have also written to Defra since November 2019. These include the hon Members for Barnsley Central, Don Valley, Rother Valley, and the Rt Hon Members for Doncaster North and Wentworth and Dearne. Recently South Yorkshire, Sheffield, Upper Don Valley and the Upper Don Catchment NFM programme schemes received an allocation of the £170 million announced on 14 July, £15.4 million for the Sheffield Upper Don scheme and £600,000 for the NFM programme. Following this announcement, I met with the Member for Penistone & Stocksbridge to discuss flooding. I have been in contact with hon Members from the South Yorkshire area on the issue of a round table and I expect to be able to confirm a date very soon. Additionally, my officials have been engaging actively with eligible local authorities on the Property Flood Resilience Fund to provide clarity on the guidance for these schemes and to provide clarity on delivery questions.

Agriculture: Trade Fairs

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to agricultural shows in England in each of the last three years.

Victoria Prentis: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

Dogs: Public Spaces Protection Orders

Jane Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of Public Space Protection Orders regarding dog control as a tool for encouraging responsible dog ownership.

Victoria Prentis: Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 each individual Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) should be reviewed every three years by the relevant local authority. This allows PSPOs to be assessed for their efficacy and to be possibly amended or cancelled. In addition to PSPOs there are other tools that police and local authorities can use to control dogs and encourage responsible ownership. The 2014 Act includes specific measures to enable the police and local authorities to tackle irresponsible dog ownership before a dog attack occurs. The main tool to combat this form of irresponsible dog ownership is the Community Protection Notice (CPN). CPNs can be issued by local authority officers or the police on dog owners, or anyone temporarily in charge of a dog at the time of an incident, where dogs are behaving in an unruly way; for example, if a dog is running loose in a park and threatening children, or where a dog threatens, or is allowed to attack another dog. The CPN could require the dog’s owner, or the person in charge of it, to take appropriate action to prevent a reoccurrence of the offending behaviour. To breach a CPN is a criminal offence and could lead to a significant penalty. The Government is determined to crack down on irresponsible dog ownership and to that end we are encouraging police forces across the country to use these new tools.

Outdoor Recreation: Coronavirus

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he received representations on which outdoor activities are exempt from the rule of six covid-19 regulations.

Rebecca Pow: We have exempted over thirty types of sport, exercise and physical activity such as football, rugby and other outdoor pursuits from the gatherings limit. Outdoor activity is safer from a transmission perspective, and it is often easier to social distance. Where such activities take place, safety measures must be taken including conducting a risk assessment and compliance with COVID-19 Secure guidance. For fitness related activity, a business, a charitable organisation, benevolent or philanthropic institution, a public body, or a political body must organise. The Secretary of State did not receive any formal representations on the exemptions before they were made.

Hunting: Coronavirus

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) grouse shooting and (b) trail hunting are exempted activities from the rule of six covid-19 regulations.

Rebecca Pow: Some types of shooting and hunting may qualify for an exemption from the gatherings limit, as certain types of physical activity are allowed in groups larger than six. If someone on a shoot or hunt holds a permit or license, issued by a public body, that is required for the activity or any equipment used in that activity and the organiser of the has undertaken a risk assessment, the activity may be able to go ahead. There is also an exemption which allows people to participate in fitness-related activities in larger groups. Some types of hunts may therefore be exempt where riders are undertaking equestrian activity related to fitness. Individual hunts will want to take their own advice about whether the rule of six applies to them. For fitness related activity, a business, a charitable organisation, benevolent or philanthropic institution, a public body, or a political body must organise.

Flood Control

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has had on the winter 2019-20 flooding with hon. Members whose constituencies were affected.

Rebecca Pow: The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, local communities and businesses and sympathises with all those affected. Following the winter 2019-20 flooding, the Secretary of State, myself and the department have been actively engaging with hon Members whose constituencies were affected. The Secretary of State has made a number of site visits and hosted an event following the winter floods in November 2019 and February 2020. These included visits to Ironbridge and Shrewsbury. He has also met individual Members including the hon Member for Halifax and the Rt Hon Member for Newark to discuss flooding in their constituencies. In addition, I have taken part in a Westminster Hall debate on the South Yorkshire flooding with several affected Members. I have also met hon Members to discuss flooding in their constituencies including the hon Member for North East Derbyshire, the hon Member for Brigg and Goole and the hon Member for Don Valley. I have also attended an end of day debate with the hon Member for West Worcestershire. I also attended an all-party meeting about the Severn Valley, held on 21 July 2020. The hon Members for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Gloucester, Montgomeryshire, West Worcestershire, Ludlow, North Herefordshire, Stroud, Stafford, and Defra's Parliamentary Private Secretary, the hon Member for Brecon and Radnorshire, attended.I have been in contact with hon Members from the South Yorkshire area on the issue of a round table and I expect to be able to confirm a date very soon.

Air Pollution

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that upcoming legislative proposals protect air quality.

Rebecca Pow: This Government takes its air quality obligations seriously and the world-leading Clean Air Strategy, published in January 2019, sets out the comprehensive action required across all parts of Government to improve air quality for everyone.The Environment Bill delivers key parts of this Strategy. It introduces a duty to set a legally-binding target for fine particulate matter concentrations, the pollutant of greatest harm to human health, alongside a duty to set a further long-term air quality target. It also ensures that local authorities have a clear framework and simple to use powers to address air quality in their areas; and provides government with new powers to enforce environmental standards for vehicles.Alongside this, the Bill will include a UK Environmental Protections policy which will allow for greater transparency and strengthened scrutiny by Parliament regarding future environmental legislation, including on air quality.

Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times since 2010 his Department has issued guidance to the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.

Victoria Prentis: The Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (AIFCA) is not a statutory body therefore the Department does not issue any guidance to it. Defra officials have a monthly meeting with the AIFCA, and a Defra representative has regularly attended quarterly meetings held between the Association and the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Staff

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many members of staff in their Department have one or more of the words equality, diversity, inclusion, gender, LGBT or race in their job title.

Victoria Prentis: I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 September 2020, PQ UIN 83985. [questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-09-01/83985]

Home Office

Immigration Controls: Aiports and Ports

Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many exit checks (a) in person and (b) using automated processes were carried out for EEA and Swiss nationals departing from all UK ports and airports in (i) 2018 and (ii) 2019; and what information those checks recorded.

Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made on introducing automated exit checks for people departing the UK; and whether exit checks will be carried out on (a) all travellers and (b) at all ports from 1 January 2021.

Kevin Foster: We re-introduced exit checks in April 2015 to further complement our work on border security, plus support the Home Office’s wider work to deal with illegal immigration.The vast majority of passengers leaving the country on scheduled commercial international air, sea and rail routes now go through exit checks. The data collected is already providing the police and security services with information to help track the movements of known criminals and terrorists.Border Force hold data for outbound alerts issued by Border Force at the National Border Targeting Centre (NBTC). However, we do not hold a breakdown of the data in the format requested.A variety of agencies, including Border Force, undertake in person outbound interventions, as a result of this activity there is no single record held on their respective outcomes.Government is working to ensure all parties including other government departments, traders, industry and passengers are prepared for the changes which will come into effect at the UK border on 1 January 2021.

Visas: Hong Kong

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the UK's capability to accommodate citizens from Hong Kong under the bespoke Hong Kong BN(O) Visa.

Kevin Foster: While this visa offer is a generous one, recognising our historic commitment to Hong Kong BN(O) citizens, it is not an unconditional offer. BN(O) citizens will need to support themselves independently while living in the UK; they will need to show they can support themselves in the UK for at least six months and will contribute to our brilliant NHS through the Immigration Health Surcharge.Successful applicants to the route will be able to work in the UK in almost any capacity and have no recourse to public funds. This means they will be unable to claim most benefits, tax credits, or housing assistance that are funded by UK taxpayers for the full five years of the visa.We are working closely with other government departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, to ensure BN(O) citizens coming into the UK can be self-sufficient, whilst integrating with and contributing to the betterment of society across our United Kingdom.

Victim Support Schemes

Simon Fell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications there have been to the National Referral Mechanism by region in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: Statistics relating to the number of referrals made to the National Referral Mechanism by region is not currently published by the Single Competent Authority. Published statistics include the police force the referral was sent to for investigation and crime recording purposes. Data tables detailing the number of RG decisions made and their outcomes for the last five years can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-referral-mechanism-statistics-uk-end-of-year-summary-2019 The published data details the final outcome of an RG decision and does not take into account any previous decisions that may have been made on a particular case.There is no appeals process for negative RG outcomes, however an individual, or someone acting on their behalf, may request reconsideration of a negative RG decision. Further detail on this can be found in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Statutory Guidance for England and Wales v1.02 sections 14.220 - 14.235. All negative decisions are reviewed by a Technical Specialist who is senior to a Decision Maker.

Victim Support Schemes

Simon Fell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of applications to the National Referral Mechanism received a reasonable grounds decision in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: Statistics relating to the number of referrals made to the National Referral Mechanism by region is not currently published by the Single Competent Authority. Published statistics include the police force the referral was sent to for investigation and crime recording purposes.Data tables detailing the number of RG decisions made and their outcomes for the last five years can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-referral-mechanism-statistics-uk-end-of-year-summary-2019. The published data details the final outcome of an RG decision and does not take into account any previous decisions that may have been made on a particular case.There is no appeals process for negative RG outcomes, however an individual, or someone acting on their behalf, may request reconsideration of a negative RG decision. Further detail on this can be found in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Statutory Guidance for England and Wales v1.02 sections 14.220 - 14.235. All negative decisions are reviewed by a Technical Specialist who is senior to a Decision Maker.

British National Socialist Movement

Nicola Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the threat posed by the British National Socialist Movement to the public; what representations she has received on the British National Socialist Movement; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: The British National Socialist Movement (which is also sometimes called the British Movement) is a white supremacist group that originated in 1968.The Government is committed to tackling Right Wing Extremism (including white supremacist and neo-Nazi activity). This includes undertaking assessments of Right Wing Extremist activity by the Counter Extremism Insight and Analysis unit.The Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT) programme brings people across England and Wales to tackle extremism at local level. Since the programme’s launch in 2016 it has supported over 240 civil society organisations.

Victim Support Schemes

Simon Fell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who have been recognised through the National Referral Mechanism as being a victim of a crime have gone on to prosecution; and how many of those prosecutions have been successful by type of crime in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: The Single Competent Authority (SCA) operates the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) which is a civil process for the identification and support of victims of modern slavery.The SCA does not collect data on the number of prosecutions related to people being recognised as a victim of modern slavery through the NRM. Many victims are recognised through the NRM independently of a prosecution being linked to their case.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) publishes quarterly modern slavery prosecution statistics, and the latest quarter can be found at: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-data-summary-quarter-4-2019-2020https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-data-summary-quarter-4-2019-2020

Entry Clearances

Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been refused entry to the UK at all ports of entry as a result of convictions for human trafficking and modern slavery or similar offences (a) in the UK, (b) in the EU and (c) in the rest of the world, in each calendar year from 2016 to 2019 inclusive.

Chris Philp: The specific information you have requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. This is because a manual search through individual records would be required to identify individuals have been refused entry to the UK from 2016 to 2019 inclusiveWe do not hold data on those refused in EU countries and the rest of the worldTackling human trafficking and modern slavery, both in the UK and overseas, is a priority for the government. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 gives law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle modern slavery and provides protection for victims. The Modern Slavery Act also includes powers which enable law enforcement officers, including Border Force, to pursue modern slavery perpetrators at sea.Border Force has a duty of care to all crossing the border and adults with vulnerability for any reason will be dealt with respect and care.

Passports: Applications

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Her Majesty’s Passport Office's update on passport applications published on 24 July 2020, how many passport applications are currently being processed by HM Passport Office.

Chris Philp: Due to COVID-19, Her Majesty’s Passport Office continues to operate at reduced staffing levels so that its people can continue to socially distance, and it is therefore taking longer than usual to process passport applications. As part of its contingency arrangements, HM Passport Office is rapidly increasing its capacity for processing passport applications, in line with public health guidance, that will help to ensure that it continues to meet the travel needs of its customers.As at 31 August 2020, passport applications work in progress is approximately 239.1k. There are a further 134,414k applications that will need to be worked through in the coming weeks once initial documentation has been received and allocated.

Asylum: Housing

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been allocated to initial accommodation by local authority in each of the last three years.

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many local authorities classed by her Department as dispersal areas received an allocation of asylum seekers for initial accommodation in each of the last three years.

Chris Philp: The number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-supportThere are141 Local authorities across the UK which accommodate asylum seekers. We do not publish data for each separate initial accommodation.

Immigrants: Finance

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have No Recourse to Public Funds conditions attached to their immigration status in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) the UK.

Chris Philp: The information you have requested is not currently published by the department. The department has written to the UKSA with regard to this matter. Please see the link below: https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/response-from-daniel-shaw-to-ed-humpherson-parliamentary-question-response/. In the Chief Statistician’s response to the UKSA, we committed to investigate whether there is data held by the Department which can inform understanding of the effect of the NRPF condition. Following our investigation, we have now published information relating to change of conditions at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-protection-data-august-2020 Migrants coming to the UK are expected to maintain and support themselves and their families without posing a burden on the UK’s welfare system. Access to benefits and other publicly funded services reflects the strength of a migrant’s connections to the UK. The Home Office publish a range of statistics on entry clearance visas, and extensions of leave in the UK in the quarterly Immigration Statistics. However, these do not show the number of people subject to NRPF.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Flats: Insulation

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of leasehold flats in buildings that do not have an EWS1 certificate.

Christopher Pincher: The EWS1 form was introduced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to assist in valuation of high-rise residential buildings for mortgage purposes, and so the Department does not hold this information. EWS1 assessments are not commissioned by the department but are requested from building owners by some lenders.

Building Safety Fund

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when applicants to the cladding building safety fund will be allocated to caseworkers.

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applications to the cladding building safety fund each caseworker will be responsible for handling.

Christopher Pincher: If confirmed eligible for the fund, building owners are contacted by officials following their registration and are invited to apply. The number of applications handled by case workers varies depending on the level of support required by building owners at each stage of the registration and application processes.

Swimming Pools: Coronavirus

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of local authority run swimming pools including pools run under contract by third parties that have (a) reopened after the covid-19 lockdown and (b) remained closed.

Luke Hall: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published guidance on the safe reopening of swimming pools and it can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-gyms-and-pools-to-reopen-safely.Decisions on reopening are made by local authorities and this information is not held centrally.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government,  when he plans to publish the (a) criteria and (b) budget for the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Luke Hall: Now we have left the European Union, we will create the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as the domestic successor to EU structural funds. The fund will bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations.The Government understands the importance of this investment for local communities across the UK. At minimum, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will match the current levels of funding for each nation from EU structural funds. Final decisions on the design of the fund will need to be taken after the Comprehensive Spending Review. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with interested parties whilst developing the fund.

Remembrance Day: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what advice the Government has issued to local authorities on conducting covid-secure Remembrance Sunday services.

Luke Hall: Should local authorities or other organisations wish to hold Remembrance Sunday events they should consult the relevant public health guidance on holding events during the pandemic and ensure appropriate licences are secured and that COVID-19 risk assessments are completed to ensure the risk of transmission is minimised.The Government has published guidance for the safe use of Places of Worship, and for special religious services and gatherings during the pandemic. At Remembrance events inside places of worship or in public places there can be multiple groups of six people doing the same activity provided that these groups do not mingle.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of new homes delivered through the 2021-2026 affordable homes programme that will be for social rent.

Christopher Pincher: The Government is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing and has recently confirmed the details of £12.2 billion of investment. This includes a new £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme which will be delivered over 5 years from next year (2021-2026), providing up to 180,000 new homes across the country, should economic conditions allow. This programme represents the highest single funding commitment to affordable housing in a decade.We are committed to delivering wide range of affordable homes of different tenures so that we can support range of people in different circumstances and stages in their lives.Half of these homes will be for Affordable and Social Rent, to help those in the greatest need.

Planning Permission: Coronavirus

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to tackle any backlog of planning applications resulting from the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: Government has introduced a number of measures to prevent delays and to ensure the planning system has remained open during the Covid-19 pandemic. Guidance for local authorities is published here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-update

Plants: Urban Areas

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to protect vegetation in the urban environment.

Christopher Pincher: The forthcoming Environment Bill will include measures to protect urban vegetation including new powers to establish local nature recovery strategies with local business and communities, including those in urban areas. We are also mandating biodiversity net gain through the Environment Bill, which will mean that a gain of at least 10 per cent in habitats for wildlife, including trees and woodland, must be achieved by any proposed developments.We have also committed to the protection of trees by establishing the Tree Preservation Order (TPO). The system allows local authorities to protect trees and woodlands so that they can continue providing ecological, health, cultural and economic benefits to current and future generations. An Order makes it an offence to cut down, prune, uproot, willfully damage or destroy a tree covered by that Order without the local authority’s written permission. More information can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas.In addition, the Government has ensured that the planning system provides protection for locally, nationally and internationally designated wildlife sites, and irreplaceable habitats including ancient and veteran trees through the National Planning Policy Framework. Further information can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2.The Government has recently announced £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund in England. The fund will support projects that are ready to deliver and focus on nature restoration, nature-based solutions and engagement with nature. The fund will protect up to 2000 jobs and create up to 3000 more whilst delivering against the goals of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. Further information on the fund can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-40-million-green-jobs-challenge-fund.

Derelict Land: Maps

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to publish a national map of brownfield sites.

Christopher Pincher: All local planning authorities in England are required to prepare, maintain and publish registers of previously developed (brownfield) land that they have assessed as being appropriate for residential development.

Mayor of the West Midlands

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many representations he has received from the Mayor of the West Midlands on proposed changes to the planning system.

Christopher Pincher: The Secretary of State and other Ministers in the department have regular and productive discussions with the Mayor.

Tobacco

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what meetings (a) he has and (b) Ministers in his Department have held with tobacco companies or their representatives since March 1st 2020.

Kelly Tolhurst: None.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Coronavirus: Public Inquiries

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether officials in (a) his Department, and (b) the wider Civil Service have been advised not to destroy covid-19-related records that could be considered relevant in the event of a potential public inquiry.

Julia Lopez: Advice and guidance on record keeping in the context of Covid-19 was first issued to officials in the Cabinet Office on 25 March. Staff were asked to “ensure that the record of what we do at this time, which is of vital importance to our nation, is preserved for future inquiries, and valuable knowledge is preserved.” Each department is responsible for its own record keeping processes.

Government Departments: Living Wage

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Government departments can apply to the Living Wage Foundation to become a Living Wage Accredited Employer; and if he will make a statement.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Government departments are able to specify that wages of at least the Real Living Wage as determined by the Living Wage Foundation must be paid to all workers employed under Facility Management contract let by that Department; and if he will make a statement.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the legal employers of all categories of civil servants by Government department.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2019 to Question 292944 on Cabinet Office: Ethnic Groups, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of his Department’s employment practices with monitoring requirements set out in the EHRC Statutory Code of Practice on Employment.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2019 to Question 292944 on Cabinet Office: Ethnic Groups, what recent assessment he has made of equal opportunities for people who have identified as BAME in his Department's promotion system.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2019 to Question 292944 on Cabinet Office: Ethnic Groups, whether his Department has since collected equality data on promotions in his Department.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of staff who applied for promotion opportunities run by the Government Recruitment Service between 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020 and who identified as (a) BAME and (b) White were successful by  each grade; and if he will make a statement.

Julia Lopez: Cabinet Office employment practices are in compliance with the monitoring requirements set out in the EHRC Statutory code of practice of employment. All permanent external recruitment within the Cabinet Office is based on the Civil Service recruitment principles which is done on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition. The information on promotions is not held centrally.The Crown is the legal employer of civil servants but, practically, as a result of delegation, the employment relationship for all civil servants is with their department or agency.Government departments have delegated authority to set pay arrangements to allow them to put in place reward arrangements for civil servants that best suit their business needs.The Government will always award contracts on the basis of value for money for the taxpayer. Employers must pay at least the National Minimum Wage, or the National Living Wage for workers over 25.

Veterans: British Nationals Abroad

Allan Dorans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to support the welfare of British veterans overseas.

Johnny Mercer: The Government provides a range of different support measures for British Armed Forces veterans living overseas. Regardless of where a veteran lives, they can receive any Armed Forces Pension, War Pension, Gurkha Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments they are entitled to. In addition, healthcare support is also provided. Over 25,000 Gurkha veterans and their families live in Nepal and can access medical care provided by the Gurkha Welfare Trust. In 2019 the Government committed £25m over the next 10 years to improve this healthcare support. Elsewhere, any veteran who has received a gratuity payment due to disablement resulting from service or is in receipt of a disablement pension under the War Pension Scheme can have the costs of treatment met where there is no free healthcare for that condition available in the country they reside. In addition to this financial and healthcare support the Commonwealth Veteran’s Programme provides funding to over 7000 Commonwealth veterans in more than 30 countries to ensure they receive the equivalent of two healthy meals a day. Any Armed Forces veteran can also contact the Veterans UK helpline wherever they reside in the world.

Voting Rights: EU Nationals

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what franchise EU citizens with (a) pre-settled and (b) settled immigration status will have after 31 December 2020.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 66206 on 6 July 2020.

Elections: Law

Owen Thompson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when they plan to (a) review and (b) bring forward new proposals on the legislative framework for electoral law.

Chloe Smith: The Government has welcomed the Law Commissions’ Electoral Law report. The Government will consider the issues raised in the report in conjunction with its wider programme of electoral integrity reforms, and will respond fully in due course.

Census

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to postpone Census 2021 in line with Scotland; what estimate he has made of the cost of postponing the census; and what steps the Office for National Statistics is taking to mitigate such costs.

Chloe Smith: The Government is not planning to postpone Census 2021 in England and Wales. I regret that Census 2021 has been postponed in Scotland.

Treasury

Elizabeth Truss

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many events were attended between 1 September 2017 and 24 July 2019 by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the invitation of: (a) the Institute or Initiative for Free Trade; (b) the Institute for Economic Affairs; (c) the Adam Smith Institute; (d) the Centre for Policy Studies; (e) Politeia; (f) the Cato Institute; (g) the Heritage Foundation; (h) the Manhattan Institute; (i) the American Enterprise Institute; (j) the Competitive Enterprise Institute; (k) the Mercatus Center; and (l) the Legatum Institute.

Steve Barclay: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Centrica: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total sum of payments made to Centrica plc and its subsidiaries is under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: It is not possible to provide an answer to this question. In line with their responsibilities under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, HMRC do not comment on identifiable taxpayers.

Charities: VAT

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will reconsider the provisions under Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994 which mean charitable bodies cannot recover VAT on public benefit works on endowed sites.

Jesse Norman: Eligibility for VAT refunds for public bodies is subject to strict criteria, as set out in UK legislation. Although the Government keeps all taxes under review, there are no plans to extend the scope of Section 33 at this time.

Insolvency

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the return of HMRC preferential creditor status on (a) the willingness of retail banks to extend credit and loans, and (b) the ability of retail banks to renew the facilities of existing borrowers.

Jesse Norman: The recent legislative change gives HMRC second preferential creditor status for certain taxes. This change ensures that when a business enters insolvency, more of the taxes paid in good faith by its employees and customers, but held temporarily by the business, go to fund public services as intended, rather than be distributed to other creditors.This change is not expected to have a significant impact on financial institutions, the lending market or wider economy. This measure is forecast to raise up to £220 million a year. To put this into perspective, bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses alone in 2019 was £57 billion.

Shipping: Tax Allowances

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to inform UK seafarers who have been unable to work due to covid-19 travel restrictions that they may face a tax bill as a result of not qualifying for the Seafarers Earnings Deduction.

Jesse Norman: The Seafarers Earnings Deduction (SED) offers a 100 per cent reduction in income tax on maritime employment income for UK and EEA resident seafarers who have a qualifying period of time absent from the UK. The qualifying period must be made up of at least 365 days, but return visits to the UK during that time up to a maximum of 183 consecutive days can count towards the qualifying period. This is among the most generous reliefs available to seafarers worldwide. In addition, the Government has introduced a broad range of support to help meet this challenge. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and mortgage holidays for homeowners and landlords. Guidance is available on GOV.UK for seafarers to check whether they are eligible for SED and what steps they need to take to claim, including a worksheet which seafarers can use each year to determine their eligibility. As with other areas of tax policy, the Government is keeping this under review in light of the pandemic.

Bank Services

Dan Carden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2020 to Questions 75431 to 75432 on Bank Services, 75433 on Bank Services: Foreign Nationals and 75434 on Bank Services: Undocumented Migrants, for what reason that information is not held by HM Treasury.

John Glen: Although HM Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services, it does not routinely collect such specific information of this kind. The information relates to commercial data from UK financial institutions.

Children: Day Care

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the (a) forecast expenditure and (b) actual expenditure for the tax-free childcare scheme in the last three financial years to date.

Steve Barclay: The forecast expenditure (forecast in March 2017) was £400m in 2017/18, £800m in 2018/19 and £900m in 2019/20. The actual expenditure was £32m in 2017/18, £117m in 2018/19 and £236m in 2019/20. Forecast expenditure has been published by the OBR (https://obr.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-march-2017). Actual expenditure has been published on the gov.uk website (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-free-childcare-statistics-june-2020). The Government recognises that take up of Tax-Free Childcare has been below expectations, particularly for school-aged children. For this reason, at March 2020 Budget we announced a measure that will make TFC payments compatible with school payment agents, allowing up to 500,000 eligible children to access TFC for the first time.

Children: Day Care

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the forecast expenditure is for the tax-free childcare scheme for (a) 2020-21 and (b) the next three financial years.

Steve Barclay: The forecast expenditure is £0.3bn in 2020/21. It is £0.5bn in 2021/22, £0.6bn in 2022/23 and £0.7bn in 2023/24. This is information is also available at https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2020/.

Affordable Housing: Coronavirus

Stephen Farry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make housing more affordable for people who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Steve Barclay: The Government has put in place significant measures to help people with their living costs, including housing, by paying up to 80% of their wages, increasing the amount available to welfare claimants and raising the Local Housing Allowance rate to the 30th percentile, supporting tenants who may be struggling with their rent. Also, 1.9 million mortgage payment holidays have been granted, equivalent to 1 in every 6 UK mortgages, and the current stay on lender repossessions of homes will be in place to 31 October 2020.Furthermore, the Government has committed an additional £9.5 billion for the Affordable Homes Programme at the Budget. This takes funding from 21/22 to £12.2 billion. The £12.2 billion will be spent over five years and this will deliver up to 180,000 new affordable homesWe also introduced a stay on possession proceedings for renters in England and Wales to ensure no one needed to be concerned about the threat of eviction over the summer. From 21 September courts will start to hear possession hearings again and these will be subject to new court processes and procedures, developed by the Judiciary, including prioritisation of the most serious cases.The Government has changed the law to increase notice periods to six months in all but the most egregious cases. This means that renters now served notice can stay in their homes over winter, with more time to find alternative support or accommodation.We are also taking steps to ensure that no enforcement of evictions will take place in areas where local lockdown measures are in force which restrict access to premises. There will also be a ‘winter truce’ on the enforcement of evictions, with no evictions permitted in England and Wales in the run up to and over Christmas except in the most serious circumstances, such as cases involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse.

Treasury: Staff

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many members of staff in their Department have one or more of the words equality, diversity, inclusion, gender, LGBT or race in their job title.

Kemi Badenoch: HM Treasury have three job titles that include diversity, inclusion and race. Currently there are 5 staff matching with one of the three Job Titles below:-Diversity and Inclusion ManagerDiversity lead Let's Talk About Race projectHead of Diversity & Inclusion

Beer: Excise Duties

James Wild: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HMRC has made of the number of brewers producing between 2,100 hectolitres and 5,000 hectolitres a year.

Kemi Badenoch: HMRC publishes annual statistics on Small Brewers Relief, this includes the number of people claiming the relief. Information on the number of brewers claiming the relief by production volume is not readily available. The Government will be bringing forward more details on the reform of SBR as part of the technical consultation later in the Autumn.

Business: Coronavirus

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what conditions on (a) environmental performance, (b) treatment of employees, (c) continuation as a going concern, (d) tax practices, (e) corporate behaviour including the use of share buybacks and dividend payments and (f) executive remuneration are imposed on companies receiving support through the (a) Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, (b) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme, c) Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan scheme and (d) COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government support measures are well-targeted at businesses most in need, bearing in mind the need to act very quickly to deliver this unprecedented package. The OBR has said that that the positive actions the Government have taken “should…help to limit any long-term economic ‘scarring’, by keeping workers attached to firms and helping otherwise viable firms stay in business.”. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in particular, has supported more than 1.2 million firms to furlough 9.6 million jobs. We expect everyone to act responsibly and in the spirit of these packages, and only claim and use support as intended. In addition:Under the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), borrowers are required to restrict dividend payments, which means they are only allowed to make dividends payments which were a) declared before the CLBILS loan was taken out, b) are in keeping with similar dividends payments made in the preceding 12 months, and c) do not have a material negative impact on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. In addition to restrictions on dividends payments, firms borrowing more than £50m will be required to agree to not make dividend payments or share buybacks, and to restrictions on pay and bonuses for senior management. These restrictions remain in place until the loan has been repaid.Issuers participating in the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) are required to commit to restraint on their capital distributions (including dividends and share buybacks) and on senior pay. This applies to all commercial paper (CP) maturing after 19 May 2021. Issuers will be required to provide a letter of commitment to HM Treasury in relation to this if a) an increase in an issuer's CCFF limit, over and above that suggested by the issuer’s investment rating, is requested and approved, and/or b) a CCFF transaction is entered into which involves CP maturing on or after 19 May 2021. HM Treasury reserves the right to publish this letter, should it become aware that the terms of the letter have not been complied with.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) digital inclusion, (b) online harms and (c) algorithmic bias will be in the scope of the Government's forthcoming Digital Strategy.

Caroline Dinenage: As I have previously announced, the forthcoming Digital Strategy will set out how the Government wants to maximise the benefits of a tech-led recovery to Covid-19, whilst coherently addressing the challenges it poses. The Strategy will focus on growth and using tech to power us out of the recession, to drive productivity and to create jobs in all parts of our economy. For the aspirations of this Strategy to be delivered successfully, we recognise people will need the capability and confidence to get the most out of an increasingly digital world. As part of the development process of the Digital Strategy, we are considering the most suitable ways to embed inclusion objectives to ensure that all citizens can benefit from a digitally-driven society. On online harms, we published the initial government response to the Online Harms White Paper in February, which set out the direction of travel, and we will publish the Full Government Response later this year. We are engaging experts, regulators, and industry over the coming months to ensure that the regulatory landscape is coherent, coordinated and effective.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Training

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Department spent on unconscious bias training in each of the last five years.

Mr John Whittingdale: All staff are expected to complete Diversity and Inclusion e-learning on an annual basis. This includes modules on unconscious bias. All e-learning is free of charge to staff as it is covered by the department’s annual payment to access Civil Service Learning.In addition to this DCMS spent £7,500+VAT in f/y 2019/20 on face to face unconscious bias training.

Youth Investment Fund

Mark Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timetable is for the launch of the Youth Investment Fund.

Mr John Whittingdale: DCMS officials are working at pace on plans for the Youth Investment Fund, and continue to assess how COVID-19 is impacting on young people and youth services. We continue to engage with the youth sector as plans develop, and will publish further details in due course.

Broadband

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2020 to Question 64332 on Broadband and Mobile Phones, what assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of the strategy to ensure access to full fibre broadband through promoting network competition and commercial investment.

Matt Warman: The government set out its high level strategy for delivering nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband in the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), published in July 2018. As part of the review, the government commissioned an independent report by Frontier Economics to consider different competitive models for achieving these aims against a set of criteria including overall coverage, pace of deployment, quality of service delivered, total cost and feasibility.The FTIR concluded that the best way to achieve the government’s aims was to promote competition and commercial investment where possible, and intervene where necessary. The review estimated that c.80% of the country could support competitive networks, and that the remaining c.20% may need further intervention to deliver gigabit-capable networks.Since the FTIR, the government has supported measures to enhance competition in the telecoms market, including Ofcom regulations to open up access to Openreach’s ducts and poles network. The government has also focused on reducing barriers to commercial deployment, including through the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill currently before Parliament. In addition, we have committed a record £5 billion to support the deployment of gigabit-capable broadband in the hardest to reach 20% of the country.We have seen a considerable increase in gigabit capable coverage since the FTIR was published. Full fibre coverage has increased from 5% of the UK in May 2018 to 14% as of May 2020, according to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations figures. Gigabit-capable coverage is even higher as a result of Virgin Media’s upgrades to its cable network, with ThinkBroadband now reporting that over a quarter of the UK can access gigabit-capable broadband.

British Telecom: Redundancy

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had discussions with BT Group on preventing compulsory redundancies at BT Technology; and if he will make a statement.

Matt Warman: My department regularly engages with BT about a range of topics, including their UK workforce, at both official and ministerial level.The Government is committed to boosting job creation in the UK. On 8 July, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Government’s Plan for Jobs which makes up to £30 billion available, with a clear goal to create, protect, and support jobs.

Broadband: Poplar and Limehouse

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to ensure that people who work and live in Poplar and Limehouse constituency can access full-fibre broadband internet.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to full-fibre broadband internet for people who live and work in Poplar and Limehouse constituency.

Matt Warman: The government has the ambition of providing nationwide gigabit-capable connectivity as soon as possible, and will continue to take action to remove barriers to commercial network rollout.Broadband rollout in Poplar and Limehouse has been undertaken commercially, with 63% of premises now able to access full fibre broadband - this is up from 1% in March 2016. This 63% figure is nearly four times the UK figure of 16%. Openreach are responsible for 12.5% of full fibre connections, and Hyperoptic are also playing a significant role in delivering full fibre connectivity across the constituency.

Theatres: Young People

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of recent changes to covid-19 restrictions on youth theatres.

Caroline Dinenage: A number of exemptions to the Rule of Six have been published and the exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people include: registered childcare, education or training supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroupsVenues such as theatres, concert halls and other entertainment venues that are already able to host larger numbers, and are Covid secure in line with the relevant guidance, will continue to be able to do so - as long as groups of more than one household are limited to six and do not mix with one another.

Coronavirus: Disinformation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2020 to Question 84695 on Coronavirus: Disinformation, how many full time equivalent staff are engaged in the Counter Disinformation Unit.

Caroline Dinenage: Addressing the challenges of COVID-19 disinformation and misinformation is a whole of Government effort. This work draws on a range of existing cross-government teams, giving it the flexibility to respond to a range of different issues.

Pornography: Internet

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2020 to Question 75251 what proportion of commercial pornography sites (a) allow user-generated content and (b) place (i) all, (ii) some and (iii) none of their pornographic content behind a paywall.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2020 to Question 75251, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department’s analysis of commercial pornographic websites that require payment.

Caroline Dinenage: Details of how the online harms legislation will apply to pornography sites, will be published later this year in the Full Government Response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation.

Sports: Coronanvirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance he has published for amateur sports clubs to return safely during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. It is important that sports clubs remain accessible for people from all backgrounds as we make efforts to return to normality after the Covid lockdown period.Government guidance on team sports is available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/return-to-recreational-team-sport-framework#team-sport-guidanceGuidance on indoor sports is available: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilitiesGeneral guidance is available on line at :www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirusThis guidance includes advice on existing rules on social distancing and hygiene, and updates on those rules when they change with the evolving situation.

Telecommunications Systems

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the switch off of the Public Switched Telephone Network; and what plans he has to ensure that consumers are (a) prepared for and (b) informed of that switch off.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the (a) value of equipment that will need to be replaced and (b) number of homes affected by the planned switch off of the Public Switched Telephone Network.

Matt Warman: The retirement of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and its replacement with Internet Protocol technology, is being led by Openreach and Virgin Media, as the relevant infrastructure owners. Openreach and Virgin Media have publicly set out their plans to withdraw these services by the end of 2025. The migration is likely to affect all fixed exchange lines, of which there are 31.3 million in the UK. As an industry led process, the Government has not made an assessment of the value of equipment to be replaced. In June this year, the Broadband Stakeholder Group, a government advisory forum on telecoms policy, launched the ‘Future of Voice’ website. This is a consumer-facing website to inform the public of the PSTN switchover process. The website has been developed with the support of telecoms companies, Ofcom and DCMS. DCMS regularly engages with the telecoms industry, Ofcom, and other Government departments on PSTN withdrawal, to discuss the impact this will have on consumers, business and public services and plans for migration to Internet Protocol technology. For example, DCMS attends Ofcom’s working groups with industry on this issue and also holds a regular meeting with relevant Government departments.